The Hβ index as an age indicator of old stellar systems: The effects of horizontal-branch stars

The strength of the Hβ index is computed for the integrated spectra of model globular clusters from the evolutionary population synthesis. For the first time, these models take into account the detailed systematic variation of horizontal-branch (HB) morphology with age and metallicity. Our models show that the Hβ index is significantly affected by the presence of blue HB stars. Because of the contribution from blue HB stars, the Hβ does not monotonically decrease as metallicity increases at a given age. Instead, it reaches a maximum strength when the distribution of HB stars is centered around 9500 K, the temperature at which the Hβ index becomes strongest. Our models indicate that the strength of the Hβ index increases as much as 0.75 Å because of the presence of blue HB stars. The comparison of the recent Keck observations of the globular cluster system in the Milky Way with those in the giant elliptical galaxies NGC 1399 and M87 shows a systematic shift in the Hβ-metallicity plane. Our models suggest that this systematic difference is explained if the mean age of globular cluster systems in giant elliptical galaxies is several billion years older than the Galactic counterpart. Further observations of globular cluster systems in the external galaxies from the large ground-based telescopes and space UV facilities will enable us to clarify whether this difference is indeed due to the age difference or whether other explanations are also possible

A Keck/LRIS Spatially-Resolved Spectroscopic Study of a LINER Galaxy SDSS J091628.05+420818.7

Using spatially-resolved spectra obtained with the Low Resolution Imaging Spectrometer at the Keck I telescope, we investigate the nature of ionizing sources and kinematic properties of emission-line gas in a LINER galaxy SDSS J091628.05+420818.7, which is a nearby (z = 0.0241) and bright (M_r = -20.2) early-type galaxy. After subtracting stellar absorption features using a combination of simple stellar population models, we measure the flux, line-of-sight velocity, and velocity dispersion of four emission lines, i.e., H{\alpha}, H{\beta}, [O III] {\lambda}5007, and [N II] {\lambda}6584, to study radial change of emission-line fluxes and velocities. Compared to the point-spread-function of the observation, the emission-line region is slightly extended but comparable to the seeing size. The central concentration of emission-line gas suggests that ionization is triggered by a nuclear source, excluding old stellar population as ionizing sources. We find that emission-line gas is counter-rotating with respect to stellar component and that the [O III] {\lambda}5007 line is blueshifted compared to other emission lines, possibly due to an outflow.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures; Accepted for publication in Ap

Method and an apparatus for processing a signal

A method of processing a signal is disclosed. The present invention includes receiving a maximum number of band and a code value of at least one section length, calculating a bit number corresponding to the code value of the at least one section length using the maximum number of the band, and obtaining the section length information by decoding the code value of the section length based on the bit number. A method of processing a signal is disclosed. The present invention includes receiving factor information of a current frame, receiving flag information indicating whether a coding mode of the factor information is an absolute value mode or a relative value mode, and obtaining factor data of the current frame using factor data of a previous frame and the received factor information based on the flag information

Methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding object-based audio signals

Provided are an audio encoding method and apparatus and an audio decoding method and apparatus in which audio signals can be encoded or decoded so that sound images can be localized at any desired position for each object audio signal. The audio decoding method generating a third downmix signal by combining a first downmix signal extracted from a first audio signal and a second downmix signal extracted from a second audio signal; generating third object-based side information by combining first object-based side information extracted from the first audio signal and second object-based side information extracted from the second audio signal; converting the third object-based side information into channel-based side information; and generating a multi-channel audio signal using the third downmix signal and the channel-based side information

Can manipulation under anesthesia alone provide clinical outcomes similar to arthroscopic circumferential capsular release in primary frozen shoulder (FS)?: the necessity of arthroscopic capsular release in primary FS

Background We evaluated the need for arthroscopic capsular release (ACR) in refractory primary frozen shoulder (FS) by comparing clinical outcomes of patients treated with ACR and manipulation under anesthesia (MUA). Methods We assessed patients with refractory primary FS, 57 patients (group A) who were treated with MUA and 22 patients (group B) who were treated with ACR. In group A, manipulation including a backside arm-curl maneuver was performed under interscalene brachial block. In group B, manipulation was performed only to release the inferior capsule before arthroscopic circumferential capsular release, which was carried out for the unreleased capsule after manipulation. Pain, range of shoulder motion, and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score were recorded at 1 week, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery. We compared outcome variables between treatment groups and between diabetics and non-diabetics and also evaluated the numbers of patients receiving additional intra-articular steroid injection. Results Outcome variables at 3 months after surgery and improvements in outcome variables did not differ between groups. Group A showed significantly better results than group B in the evaluation of pain and range of motion at 1 week. Diabetics showed comparable outcomes to non-diabetics for most variables. Eleven patients required additional steroid injections between 8 to 16 weeks after surgery: 12.2% in group A, 18.2% in group B. Additional injections were given three times more often in diabetics compared to non-diabetics. Conclusions MUA alone can yield similar clinical outcomes to ACR in refractory FS

Strut Support with Tricortical Iliac Allografts in Unstable Proximal Humerus Fractures: Surgical Indication and New Definition of Poor Medial Column Support

Background The execution of fibular allograft augmentation in unstable proximal humerus fractures (PHFs) was technically demanding. In this study, the authors evaluated the clinical and radiographic outcomes after tricortical iliac allograft (TIA) augmentation in PHFs. Methods We retrospectively assessed 38 PHF patients treated with locking-plate fixation and TIA augmentation. Insertion of a TIA was indicated when an unstable PHF showed a large cavitary defect and poor medial column support after open reduction, regardless of the presence of medial cortical comminution in preoperative images. Radiographic imaging parameters (humeral head height, HHH; humeral neck-shaft angle, HNSA; head mediolateral offset, HMLO; and status of the union), Constant score, and range of motion were evaluated. Patients were grouped according to whether the medial column support after open reduction was poor or not (groups A and B, respectively); clinical outcomes were compared for all parameters. Results All fractures healed radiologically (average duration to complete union, 5.8 months). At final evaluation, the average Constant score was 73 points and the mean active forward flexion was 148°. Based on the Paavolainen assessment method, 33 patients had good results and 5 patients showed fair results. The mean loss of reduction was 1.32 mm in HHH and 5.02% in HMLO. None of the parameters evaluated showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups (poor and not poor medial column support). Conclusions In unstable PHFs, TIA augmentation can provide good clinical and radiological results when there are poor medial column support and a large cavitary defect after open reduction

CIB1 protects against MPTP-induced neurotoxicity through inhibiting ASK1.

Calcium and integrin binding protein 1 (CIB1) is a calcium-binding protein that was initially identified as a binding partner of platelet integrin αIIb. Although CIB1 has been shown to interact with multiple proteins, its biological function in the brain remains unclear. Here, we show that CIB1 negatively regulates degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in a mouse model of Parkinson\u27s disease using 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). Genetic deficiency of the CIB1 gene enhances MPTP-induced neurotoxicity in dopaminergic neurons in CIB1(-/-) mice. Furthermore, RNAi-mediated depletion of CIB1 in primary dopaminergic neurons potentiated 1-methyl-4-phenyl pyrinidium (MPP(+))-induced neuronal death. CIB1 physically associated with apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) and thereby inhibited the MPP(+)-induced stimulation of the ASK1-mediated signaling cascade. These findings suggest that CIB1 plays a protective role in MPTP/MPP(+)-induced neurotoxicity by blocking ASK1-mediated signaling