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We present time-resolved optical spectroscopy and photometry of four relatively bright (V~14.0-15.5) long-period cataclysmic variables (CVs) discovered in the Hamburg Quasar Survey: HS0139+0559, HS0229+8016, HS0506+7725 and HS0642+5049. Their respective orbital periods, 243.69+-0.49min, 232.550+-0.049min, 212.7+-0.2min and 225.90+-0.23min are determined from radial velocity and photometric variability studies. HS0506+7725 is characterised by strong Balmer and He emission lines, short-period (~10-20min) flickering and weak X-ray emission in the ROSAT All Sky Survey. The detection of a deep low state (~18.5) identifies HS0506+7725 as a member of the VY Scl stars. HS0139+0559, HS0229+8016 and HS0642+5049 display thick-disc like spectra and no or only weak flickering activity. HS0139+0559 and HS0229+8016 exhibit clean quasi-sinusoidal radial velocity varations of their emission lines but no or very little orbital photometric variability. In contrast, we detect no radial velocity variation in HS0642+5049 but a noticeable orbital brightness variation. We identify all three systems either as UX UMa-type novalike variables or as Z Cam-type dwarf novae. Our identification of these four new systems underlines that the currently known sample of CVs is rather incomplete even for bright objects. The four new systems add to the clustering of orbital periods in the 3-4h range found in the sample of HQS selected CVs, and we discuss the large incidence of magnetic CVs and VY Scl/SW Sex stars found in this period range among the known population of CVs., 12 pages, 17 figures, Astronomy and Astrophysics in press, low-quality figures to comply with astro-ph size limit

HD 163621 is a double-lined spectroscopic binary in a circular orbit whose period is 3.3 days. Spectral classification of the components has proved difficult, but current results of K0 V and late K V are reasonably consistent with our best model of the system, which has spectral types of G8V and K7V. The object shows photometric variability and chromospheric activity and is therefore a member of the BY Draconis class of variables. The minimum masses are quite small, 0.10 and 0.07 M⊙ for the primary and secondary, respectively, suggesting an orbital inclination of about 30°. The system is synchronously rotating. Its distance is estimated to be 31 pc, which makes it an excellent candidate for a trigonometric parallax determination.

We report the discovery of five new dwarf novae from the Hamburg Quasar Survey (HQS), and discuss the properties of the sample of dwarf novae in the HQS. The orbital periods of the new dwarf novae are ~105.1 min or ~109.9 min, 114.3+-2.7 min, 92.66+-0.17 min, 272.317+-0.001 min, 258.02+-0.56 min for HS0417+7445, HS1016+3412, HS1340+1524, HS1857+7127, and HS2214+2845, respectively. HS1857+7127 is found to be partially eclipsing. In HS2214+2845 the secondary star of spectral type M3+-1 is clearly detected, and we estimate the distance to the system to be d=390+-40 pc. We recorded one superoutburst of the SU UMa system HS0417+7445. HS1016+3412 and HS1340+1524 have rare outbursts, and their subtype is yet undetermined. HS1857+7127 frequently varies in brightness and may be a Z Cam-type dwarf nova. HS2214+2845 is a U Gem-type dwarf nova with a most likely cycle length of 71 d. To date, 14 new dwarf novae have been identified in the HQS. The ratio of short-period (3 h) systems of this sample is 1.3, much smaller compared to the ratio of 2.7 found for all known dwarf novae. The HQS dwarf novae display typically infrequent or low-amplitude outburst activity, underlining the strength of spectroscopic selection in identifying new CVs independently of their variability. The spectroscopic properties of short-period CVs in the HQS suggest that most of them are still evolving towards the minimum period. Their total number agrees with the predictions of population models within an order of magnitude. However, the bulk of all CVs is predicted to have evolved past the minimum period, and those systems remain unidentified. Those post-bounce systems may have markedly weaker Hbeta emission lines compared to the average known short-period CVs, and probably undergo no or extremely rare outbursts., accepted for publication in A&A, 17 pages, 18 figures, low-quality figures to comply with astro-ph size limit

We report detailed follow-up observations of the cataclysmic variable HS2331+3905, identified as an emission-line object in the Hamburg Quasar Survey. An orbital period of 81.08min is unambiguously determined from the detection of eclipses in the light curves of HS2331+3905. A second photometric period is consistently detected at P~83.38min, ~2.8% longer than the orbital period, which we tentatively relate to the presence of permanent superhumps. High time resolution photometry exhibits short-timescale variability on time scales of 5-6min which we interpret as non-radial white dwarf pulsations, as well as a coherent signal at 1.12min, which is likely to be the white dwarf spin period. A large-amplitude quasi-sinusoidal radial velocity modulation of the Balmer and Helium lines with a period ~3.5h is persistently detected throughout three seasons of time-resolved spectroscopy. However, this spectroscopic period, which is in no way related to the orbital period, is not strictly coherent but drifts in period and/or phase on time scales of a few days. Modeling the far-ultraviolet to infrared spectral energy distribution of HS2331+3905, we determine a white dwarf temperature of Teff=10500K (assuming Mwd=0.6Msun), close to the ZZ Ceti instability strip of single white dwarfs. The spectral model implies a distance of d=90+-15pc, and a low value for the distance is supported by the large proper motion of the system, mu=0.14"/yr. The non-detection of molecular bands and the low J, H, and K fluxes of HS2331+3905 make this object a very likely candidate for a brown-dwarf donor., Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A, 15 pages, 13 figures. Several figures are downgraded to meet the size limit of astro-ph

FS Aur is a known dwarf nova with an orbital period of about 85.7 minutes. It has been assumed to be a member of the SU UMa subclass of cataclysmic variables (CVs), but previous searches for superhumps and superoutburst have been unsuccessful. We conducted a series of photometric and spectroscopic observations of FS Aur during quiescence. We confirmed its short orbital period from radial velocity measurements. However, the long-term photometry revealed an unexpected result: the system also shows a distinct 0.24 mag modulation in the BVR photometric bands with a period of 205.5 min, which is 2.4 times longer than the orbital period. We discuss various possible causes for such a peculiar behavior., 12 pages, 1 table, 12 figures, accepted for publication in PASP

We report on the first far-UV observations of the asynchronous polar BY Cam made by the Far-Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE). The source is known to exhibit the most extreme NV/CIV emission resonance line ratio observed among polars. The FUSE observations reveal a OVI resonance line weaker than in the prototype of polars, AM Her, with the absence of a detectable narrow component. The OVI broad line is detected with an equivalent width of the same order as in AM Her, the blueward doublet component is clearly present but the redward component is strongly affected by H2 absorption. The presence of a strong NIII line and weak CIII lines also confirms the peculiar CNO line flux. We compare the resonance CNO line intensities with the predictions of the CLOUDY plasma code coupled to a geometrical model of the accretion column. Varying the temperature and/or intensity of the ionising spectrum is unable to reproduce the observed broad line ratios. A solution is obtained by significantly altering the element abundances with a strong depletion of C, overabundance of N and a weak underabundance of O. This confirms previous suggestions of non-solar abundances which may result from redistribution in the accreted material following nova outbursts and/or the secondary nuclear evolution. A very significant H2 absorption is observed in front of the source, a possible indication for either the existence of a dense interstellar cloud or of circumstellar material., Comment: 6 pages, 4 Postscript figures, accepted by Astronomy and Astrophysics, uses aa.sty

We present far‐UV observations of three peculiar magnetic cataclysmic variables (MCVs), BY Cam, V1309 Ori and AE Aqr, obtained with the FUSE satellite. Previous IUE spectra of these three objects revealed quite unusual resonance lines compared to other MCVs: an intense NV line and a weak CIV line. The FUSE spectra of these sources exhibit broad OVI lines as well as a strong NIII line at 991A, while the CIII 1175A line is nearly absent. Photoionisation models fail to produce the observed line intensities. This confirms non‐solar CNO abundances. We discuss possible origins for these peculiar abundances, including the signature of nova thermonuclear runaways (TNR) at the surface of the magnetized white dwarf.

We report the discovery of one unique cataclysmic variable drawn from the Hamburg Quasar Survey, HS2331+3905. Follow-up observations obtained over three years unveiled a very unusual picture. The large amplitude 3.5 h radial velocity variations obtained from our optical spectroscopy is not the orbital period of the system, as one would normally expect. Instead, extensive CCD photometry strongly suggests that HS2331+3905 is a short orbital period cataclysmic variable with Porb = 81.09 min, containing a cold white dwarf which appears to exhibit ZZ Ceti pulsations., Comment: 2 pages, 2 figures, LaTex, to appear in proceedings of the IAU Coll. 194 "Compact Binaries in the Galaxy and Beyond", La Paz (Mexico), November 17-21, 2003

To determine the effect of filtered-coffee consumption on plasma lipoprotein cholesterol levels in healthy men.--Randomized controlled trial with an 8-week washout period followed by an 8-week intervention period during which men were randomly assigned to drink 720 mL/d of caffeinated coffee, 360 mL/d of caffeinated coffee, 720 mL/d of decaffeinated coffee, or no coffee.--Outpatient clinical research center in a university medical center.--One hundred healthy male volunteers.--Changes in plasma lipoprotein cholesterol levels during the intervention period.--Men who consumed 720 mL of caffeinated coffee daily had mean increases in plasma levels of total cholesterol (0.24 mmol/L, P = .001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (0.17 mmol/L, P = .04), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (0.08 mmol/L, P = .03). No significant changes in these plasma lipoprotein levels occurred in the other groups. Compared with the group who drank no coffee the group who drank 720 mL/d of caffeinated coffee had increases in plasma levels of total cholesterol (0.25 mmol/L, P = .02), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (0.15 mmol/L, P = .17), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (0.09 mmol/L, P = .12) after adjustment for changes in diet.--Consumption of 720 mL/d of filtered, caffeinated coffee leads to a statistically significant increase in the plasma level of total cholesterol, which appears to be due to increases of both low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

After a decade of near stability at P=0.146 d, the photometric "superhump" periodicity of the old nova V603 Aquilae experienced a remarkable change between 1991 and 1992. Observation in 1992--1994 indicates that the dominant signal was then at a period in the range 0.1338-0.1345 d, 3% shorter than the orbital period. Like its predecessor, the new signal also wanders in period on a timescale of a few months. The full amplitude in 1994 was 0.20 mag, more than twice as great as the superhump displayed during 1980--1991. An intensive observing campaign in 1994 revealed that the old superhump at 0.146 d was still present with approximately undiminished amplitude (averaging 0.07 mag). In a precession model, the simultaneous presence of superhumps above and below the orbital period strongly suggests identification with two independent types of precessional sideband. The observed periods and period changes are consistent with a simple hypothesis: that the longer period ("positive superhump") arises from the prograde motion of the line of apsides, and the shorter period ("negative superhump") arises from the retrograde motion of the line of nodes. A detailed account of how a fluid disk manages to maintain such well-organized motions is sorely needed.

Radial velocities from 1916.95 to 1991.95 and photometry from l979.25, both published and new in this paper, are presented and analyzed. A new solution of the radial velocity curve reveals a new period of 80.90 days and an eccentricity of e = 0.05 +/- 0.02, both very different from the 80.17 days and 0.35 found by Abt et al. (1969). An alternative solution with e = 0 is given because we cannot decide firmly whether or not the small eccentricity is real. We find V sin i = 11.3 +/- 0.3 km/s from Maidanak and 10 unequal depth. 0.048 mins and 0.026 mins. The orbital ephemeris for conjunction (K gisnt behind) is JD(hel.) 2,448,111.1 (+/- 0.4 days ) + 80.898 days (+/- 0.004 days ) E, consistent with both the radial velocities and the photometry. With the ellipticity effect removed, the light curve shows residual variability which we fit with a two-spot model. During the 13 years covered by photometry there were nine different starspots, the largest one producing a light loss of 0.19 mins. Rotation periods for the nine spots ranged from 78.6 +/- 0.5 days to 83.7 +/- 0.4 days from which we concluded that the K giant does rotate synchronously but with a differential rotation coefficient of k = 0.06 +/- 0.01. Lifetimes for the nine spots ranged from 1.1 to greater than 4.2 yr and were consistent with the empirical spot lifetime laws of Hall & Henry (1994). Use of the mass function, the orbital period, the V sin i, the two different ellipticity effect amplitudes, and various logical constraints led to ranges of possible masses, radii and inclinations. The most believable solution was around i = 90 deg, R(sub 1) = 24 solar radii, M(sub 1) = 1.1 solar mass, and M(sub 2) = 0.6 solar mass. THe Rossby number for the K giant is 0.48, small enough compared to the critical value of 0.65 to explain why, though rotating 'slowly', it does have large spots.

ADS 11060 C is a double lined spectroscopic binary with a period of 25.7631 days and an eccentricity of 0.565. Spectral types of the two stars are estimated as K7 V and MO V with a magnitude difference of about 0.55 mag in V. The stars appear to be somewhat metal rich with respect to the Sun. Despite the relatively large masses of 0.53 and 0.51 solar mass, our photometric observations find no evidence for eclipses and we estimate an inclination of 77 deg plus or minus 11 deg. ADS 11060 C is, however, photometrically variable with a period of 9 plus or minus 1 day and an amplitude of 0.05 mag in V. Thus, it is a newly identified BY Draconis variable. The center-of-mass velocity of ADS 11060 C and an estimated parallax of 0.030 sec support its physical association with ADS 11060 AB, making this a quintuple system. The projected separation of the AB-C system is nearly 1200 AU. Although the log lithium abundances of the two components of ADS 11060 C are only upper limits, less than or equal to -0.14, lithium abundances of the AB-C components appear to be consistent with those of similar stars in the alpha Persei and Pleiades clusters, suggesting an age of about 70 Myr for ADS 11060 AB-C. The system is a possible member of the Pleiades moving group. Listed as an optical counterpart to a source in the ROSAT Wide Field Camera extreme-ultraviolet bright source catalog, both ADS 11060 AB and C may contribute to the observed flux.

A complete BV light curve, from 14 nights of good data obtained with the Vanderbilt University-Tennessee State University (VU-TSU) automatic telescope, are presented and solved with the Wilson-Devinney program. Third light is evaluated, with the companion star brighter by 0.58(sup m) in V and 0.11(sup m) in B. The eclipses are partial. Inferred color indices yield F2 V and F8 V for the eclipsing pair and G8 IV-III for the distant companion star. After removing the variability due to eclipses, we study the residual variability of the G8 IV-III star over the ten years 1982 to 1992. Each yearly light curve is fit with a two-spot model. Three relatively long-lived spots are identified, with rotation periods of 85.9(sup d), 85.9(sup d), and 86.1(sup d). The weak and intermittent variability is understood because the G8 IV-III star has a Rossby number at the threshold for the onset of heavy spottedness.

EF Pegasi was observed photometrically during a superoutburst in 1991 October. Superhumps seen during these observations were best fit with a period of 2h .09. This period is used to determine a likely orbital period of 2h .05 and a mass ratio (M2/M1) of 0.26. Distance estimates for EF Peg give values of 250 to 600 pc.

UBV and uvby photometry of the magnetic CP Star 56 Arietis from the Braeside Observatory and the Four College Automated Photoelectric Telescope, respectively, significantly differs from previously published values. Observations with each filter taken in the fall of 1990 show small differences in the shapes of the light curves compared with similar observations a year later. A possible explanation consistent with the radiative diffusion model for such stars is that we are observing a free body precession of a spotted star. As there is now clear evidence that the light curves of at least one CP star do change, it is desirable to continue these observations to see if these changes are periodic albeit that the period may be of order of a decade for 56 Ari

New photoelectric observations of RW Per were obtained, and photometric solutions were carried out for these data, for earlier photoelectric observations, and for archival photographic observations. It is concluded that no third light exists in this binary, and that the original nodal variation explanation for historical changes in the depth of primary eclipse is therefore incorrect. A revised nodal variation hypothesis is suggested. It is also noted that these changes could have been produced by a gradual increase in the polar radius of the hot star, perhaps related to a change in that star's rotational velocity.

On 1989 May 22 the Japanese Ginga Team reported the discovery of a bright new X-ray transient and cataloged the source as GS 2023+338. We have identified this X-ray source with V404 Cygni, an optical nova whose last reported major outburst was in 1938.

RW Per was found to have large secular changes in its eclipse amplitude. In blue light, for example, the amplitude was 3.2 mag in the early 1900s, 2.2 mag in the late 1960s, and 1.75 mag in 1990. Throughout this time, the brightness at maximum was constant in all colors. It is shown that the only possible explanation is nodal motion, where the inclination varies with a period of roughly 100,000 yr. The nodal motion is caused by a third star, for which the light curve, the colors, and the O - C curve already provide evidence. Thus, RW Per is only the fourth known star with large changes of eclipse amplitude and is only the second example of nodal motion.

B andV photometry of DM UMa obtained between January, 1980 and June, 1984 is presented. Analysis yields a mean photometric period 7d.478±0d.010, compared to the known oribital period of 7d.492±0d.009. Light curves obtained during any two seasons do not agree in any of the following: shape, amplitude, phases of the light maxima and minima, mean light level, or brightness at the light maxima and minima. From the change inB-V over the photometric period, we concludethat the hemisphere visible during the light minimum is cooler than that seen during light maximum. The mean colorB-V=1m.065±0m.002 is consistent with K1 III or K2 IV. Phases of light minima lie on two well-separated groups with different slopes; the corresponding periods are 7d.471±0d.002 and 7d.481±0d.001, in dicating that both migrate linearly towards decreasing orbital phase. In terms of the starspot model this indicates that two respective centers of activity were situated at different longitudes and latitudes on a differentially rotating star. From circumstantial evidence we infer that the dark region seen from 1979 onwards disintegrated sometime between the 1982 and 1983 observing seasons, leaving behind an area of relatively high surface brightness. We can put a lower limit of about four years on the lifetime of a center of activity.

Three years of photometry in V and B of the UBV system are presented to confirm the suspicion of Herbst (1973) that HR 7275 is a variable star. The photometry is used to derive the photometric period, which proves to be about 3% shorter than the spectroscopically determined optical period of 28.59 d. Total variation observed during the three years was 0.22 m in the V, and the light curve was always asymmetrical.

Five years of photoelectric photometry of this bright K1 III RS CVn binary has been obtained at thirteen different observatories. Except for one year, the light curve has shown two minima, separated by roughly a half cycle. At the epoch of discovery (1977.2) one minimum was shallower but as of 1980.2 the two became comparable in depth. During the 1979–80 season the light curve changed shape rapidly, the shallower minimum becoming as deep as the other within about 80 days or perhaps less. Times of both minima can be fit with a photometric period of 19d.423, which is 0.9% shorter than the 19d.603 orbital period. The overall brightness range during the five years has been 4m.13

Investigating more than 270 nightly mean magnitudes of the long-period RS CVn binary HK Lac, we can draw some conclusions about the nature of its complicated light variations. The mean brightness, the apparent photometric period, and the shape of the light curve all show strong variations. Analysis with a starspot model, assuming two large spots and a general uniform spottedness, indicates two comparably large spots which appear to have maintained their separate identities for the last 15 yr and drifted in longitude separation from each other smoothly by only about 45°. The phase of the two spots indicates both are rotating very nearly synchronously with the orbital motion, one slightly (0.025%) faster and the other slightly (0.080%) slower. the latitudes of the two spots, one farther above the equator and one closer to the equator, are consistent with solar-type differential rotation and yield an estimate of 25±12° for the co-rotating latitude. A correlation between mean spot latitude and instantaneous photometric period yields another estimate of 31±2°, in agreement with the first.

The epochs of maximum light (EMLs) in the light curve of TU UMa, a halo RR Lyrae variable star, depart from a linear ephemeris over the 85 yr interval that the star has been under scrutiny. We have supplemented the list of EMLs assembled by Saha & White with new photoelectric (photomultiplier tube or CCD) measurements made during the period 1990–1999; in addition, we have collected other recent EMLs from the literature. There are now 83 EMLs in the list, of which 35 are reported for the first time here. We analyze these data, combining a quadratic pulsation ephemeris with an orbital timing model, as previously suggested by Szeidl et al. and by Saha & White. The favored model relies exclusively on photoelectric measurements of EMLs, and it yields residuals (2.4 minutes rms) that are comparable to the precision of measurement. We conclude that TU UMa is a member of a binary star system with a period of approximately 23 yr. This conclusion is supported by available high-quality center-of-mass radial velocity data. The inferred orbit is highly eccentric, e ≈ 0.79, but not extremely so. The minimum mass of the companion object in the favored model is ≈0.4 M⊙. The minimum projected size of TU UMa's orbital major axis is 10 mas. The binary system is presently near its widest orbital and angular separation. TU UMa is the only RR Lyrae star that can be considered with high probability to be a member of a relatively short-period binary and as such is the only RR Lyrae star for which there is a prospect for direct measurement of the mass.

The variable star HD 136905, recently designated GX Librae, is a chromospherically active K1 III single-lined spectroscopic binary with a period of 11.1345 days. It has moderate strength Ca II H and K and ultraviolet emission features, while H-alpha is strongly in absorption. The inclination of the system is 58 + or - 17 deg and the unseen secondary is most likely a G or K dwarf. The v sin i of the primary, 32 + or - 2 km/s, results in a minimum radius of 7.0 + or - 0.4 solar radii. Since the star fills a substantial fracture of its Roche lab, the double-peaked limit curve seen by photometric observers is predominantly ellipsoidal in nature. Both the photometry and the spectroscopy yield values for the period and the time of conjunction that are identical within their uncertainties.

UBV photometry and optical-UV spectroscopy of the primary eclipse of the long period Zeta Aurigae-like system 31 Cygni are reported. The precise timings made possible by the photometry imply that the spectral features could be due to an accretion shock associated with a hot star embedded in an extended chromosphere surrounding the red supergiant. The data also suggest an extended clumpy structure to the atmosphere of the late-type supergiant in the binary.