Discovery of Extremely Large-Amplitude Quasi-Periodic Photometric Variability in WC9-Type Wolf-Rayet Binary, WR 104

We discovered that the Wolf-Rayet (WR)+OB star binary, WR 104, renowned for its associated "dusty pinwheel nebula" recently spatially resolved with infrared interferometry, exhibits strong quasi-periodic optical variations with a full amplitude of 2.7 mag. Such a large-amplitude, continuous variation has been unprecedented in a WR star. The optical quasi-period (~241 d) is in almost perfect agreement with the interferometric period (243.5+/-3 d). The remarkable agreement of the dominant period in optical variability with the orbital period supports that the strongly varying dust obscuration is physically related to the binary motion, rather than sporadic dust-forming episodes. Considering the low orbital inclination (11+/-7 deg) and the nearly circular orbit inferred from the interferometric observations, the strongly variable line-of-sight extinction suggests that the highly structured extinction can be being formed via an ejection of dust in the direction of the binary rotation axis. Another viable explanation is that the three-dimensional structure of the shock front, itself is the obscuring body. Depending on the geometry, the dusty shock front near the conjunction phase of the binary can completely obscure the inner WR-star wind and the OB star, which can explain the amplitude of optical fading and the past observation of remarkable spectral variation.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, to appear in PASJ (Letters), using an alternative style fil

Deep Transient Optical Fading in the WC9 Star WR 106

We discovered that the WR9-type star WR 106 (HDE 313643) underwent a deep episodic fading in 2000. The depth of the fading (dV ~ 2.9 mag) surpassed those of all known similar "eclipse-like" fadings in WR stars. This fading episode was likely to be produced by a line-of-sight episodic dust formation rather than a periodic enhancement of dust production in the WR-star wind during the passage of the companion star though an elliptical orbit. The overall 2000 episode was composed of at least two distinct fadings. These individual fadings seem to more support that the initial dust formation triggered a second dust formation, or that the two independent dust formations occurred by the same triggering mechanism rather than a stepwise dust formation. We also discuss on phenomenological similarity of the present fading with the double fading of R CrB observed in 1999-2000.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures, to appear in Astron. Astrophys. (Letters

Paramagnetic Susceptibility of Solid Oxygen

The susceptibility of solid oxygen was investigated at temperatures ranging over from 2 to 77°K by using Hartshorn A. C. bridge method. A fair agreement was obtained between magnetic transition points and thermal ones. The susceptibility did not change at the melting point (54.3°K), but was almost of the same magnitude as in the liquid state. At the transition point from γ to β phase (43.7°K), the susceptibility deceased sharply to 130×10^. In β phase, it diminished gradually with the temperature to the next transition point (23.7°K) from β to α phase, where it decreased abruptly once again to 50×10^. Antiferromagnetic nature was expected from many evidences. The nature and the origin of (O_2)_2 molecule were discussed briefly

Specific Heat of Amorphous State

A general model for supercooled liquid is proposed which involves the "Ideal Supercooled Liquid," crystal nucleus, microcrystallite and crystal. In this model, in homogeneity which appears in supercooled liquid is attributed to these nuclei and microcrystallites. The authors consider that in amorphous state, heat energy is absorbed in two ways, one by the kinetic portion and the other by the configurational portion. While the former absorbs heat energy instantaneously, the latter absorbs through the molecular relaxating process. From this simple model, the authors derive a formula for the specific heat of amorphous substance, which shows that (1) supercooled liquid to glassy transition is superficial one depending on the heating rate in the measurement, and (2) if perfect equilibrium is maintained at all temperatures in measuring process, we get perfect continuous C_p～T curve. In addition, the method to determine the true equilibrium value by the use of Nernst\u27s method is proposed. Some characteristics of specific heat curve are discussed with success

Nova Sco 2001 (V1178 Sco)

We present intermediate resolution spectroscopy and near infrared photometry of NOVA Sco 2001 (V1178 Sco), which was first detected May 13th 2001 and reported June 21th 2001, and obtained by us the same day. We also retrieved very accurate astrometry of the target in this very crowded field. This is needed to be able to do follow up observations of the postnova during the next years. The spectrum shows an overall expansion of 2100 km/s and has clearly complex, and most likely nonsymmetric, outflow substructures. We clearly identify this object as classical nova, "Fe II" subclass.Comment: 4 pages, TeX, accepted for Publication in A&A (Letter

A novel behavioral science-based health checkup program and subsequent metabolic risk reductions in a workplace: Checkup championship

The effectiveness of general health checkups and lifestyle counseling has been questioned. This study examined whether a workplace health promotion program implemented during a health checkup was associated with metabolic syndrome-related indicators. Hakuhodo DY group, one of Japan's largest advertising agencies, implemented a behavioral science-based program called "Checkup Championship" (Kenshin-sen in Japanese) in 2019, in which all employees could voluntarily participate. We studied 3697 employees (2818 men and 879 women, mean age: 40.7 years), consisting of 1509 program participants and 2188 non-participants. The characteristics of participants and non-participants were balanced using inverse probability weighting. We used their data from the health checkups in 2018 and 2019 together with other covariates and performed a difference-in-differences analysis using a linear mixed model. After program implementation, greater reductions were observed among participants compared with non-participants in weight (-0.66 kg, 95% confidence interval: -0.84 to -0.47), body mass index (-0.23 kg/m², -0.29 to -0.16), waist circumference (-0.67 cm, -0.91 to -0.43), systolic blood pressure (-1.13 mmHg, -2.10 to -0.16), and diastolic blood pressure (-0.84 mmHg, -1.53 to -0.15). In addition, we observed greater reductions in weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol among participants who were with two or more risk factors for metabolic syndrome than other participants. We found that participation in a health checkup program based on behavioral science was associated with reduced metabolic syndrome-related indicators. There may be room for improvement in the effectiveness of general health checkups

Public assistance program and depressive symptoms of the recipient: a cross-sectional Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study

BACKGROUND: Mental health conditions among older recipients of public assistance should be considered because it has been reported that public assistance recipients tend to have higher risks of morbidity than non-recipients, and mental health is strongly related to frailty. We aimed to examine whether older recipients of public assistance were more likely to have depressive symptoms compared to non-recipients. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study, a 2016 community-based study of older adults. Poisson regression analyses with a robust error variance using fixed effects were conducted to examine the relationship between receiving public assistance and depressive symptoms controlling for sociodemographic factors. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Geriatric Depression Scale 15. RESULTS: We found that the older recipients of public assistance were 1.57 times (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.47, 1.67) more likely to have depressive symptoms compared to non-recipients. We also found that, when additionally adjusting for indicators of social participation, this relationship was slightly attenuated; however, the recipients still had worse mental health issues (Prevalence ratio: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.25, 1.42). CONCLUSIONS: Even after controlling for sociodemographic factors, older recipients of public assistance tended to be more depressed than non-recipients. However, our findings also indicated that social participation could slightly attenuate the negative relationship between receiving public assistance and depressive symptoms. Therefore, the public assistance program needs to consider the inclusion of mental healthcare support in addition to financial support

The Magnetic Properties of Cupric Formate Tetrapydrate at Low Temperatures

The magnetic susceptibility of single crystals of Cu(HCO_2)_2・4H_2O was measured at temperatures between 1.4°K and 80°K by a. c. bridge and magnetic balance method. This salt is an example of the magnetic two dimensional lattice. The interaction between Cu^ ions is mainly the superexchange interaction through a formate ion in the same layer. From the Weiss constant of about -150°K, it is concluded that strength of superexchange interaction through a formate molecule, -(O-CH-O)-, has the same order as that through one diamagnetic atomic ion such as -(Cl)-. The existence of a broad maximum of the susceptibility at about 60°K implies the appearance of short range order in the two dimensional lattice. The antiferromagnetic transition accompanied by parasitic ferromagnetism was found at 17.0°K±0.2°K. The weak ferromagnetic moment in L_1L_2 plane was about 150 c. g. s. e. m. u. at 0°K. Along L_3 axis, no ferromagnetic moment was found. The susceptibility of isomorphous Cu(HCO_2)_2・2H_2O・2(NH_2)_2CO was similar to that of Cu(HCO_2)2・4H_2O

The Cloud Point Test for Low Temperature Lubricant Oil and Some Remarks on the Clouding of Liquid

An apparatus was constructed with which the cloud point of the low temperature lubricant oil was measured by the photo-electrical method. This method had superiority over the former one in the following respects : (1) very high sensitivity (2) obtaining perfect equilibrium value of turbidity at every temperature, (3) estimating the amount of clouding materials and (4) obtaining the data for further improvement of the oil. The lubricant oil made from fish oil was tested by this method and its quality was improved by low temperature filtration. The problem of the induction period of the clouding was discussed. It was found that the velocity of clouding was proportional to the reciprocal of the viscosity of medium oil