The beta Pictoris association: Catalog of photometric rotational periods of low-mass members and candidate members

We intended to compile the most complete catalog of bona fide members and candidate members of the beta Pictoris association, and to measure their rotation periods and basic properties from our own observations, public archives, and exploring the literature. We carried out a multi-observatories campaign to get our own photometric time series and collected all archived public photometric data time series for the stars in our catalog. Each time series was analyzed with the Lomb-Scargle and CLEAN periodograms to search for the stellar rotation periods. We complemented the measured rotational properties with detailed information on multiplicity, membership, and projected rotational velocity available in the literature and discussed star by star. We measured the rotation periods of 112 out of 117 among bona fide members and candidate members of the beta Pictoris association and, whenever possible, we also measured the luminosity, radius, and inclination of the stellar rotation axis. This represents to date the largest catalog of rotation periods of any young loose stellar association. We provided an extensive catalog of rotation periods together with other relevant basic properties useful to explore a number of open issues, such as the causes of spread of rotation periods among coeval stars, evolution of angular momentum, and lithium-rotation connection.Comment: Forthcoming article, Received: 20 June 2016 / Accepted: 09 September 2016; 40 pages, 2 figures. The online figures A1-A73 are available at CD

The rotation - Lithium depletion correlation in the beta Pictoris association and LDB age determination

There is evidence in the 125-Myr Pleiades cluster, and more recently in the 5-Myr NGC 2264 cluster, that rotation plays a key role in the Lithium (Li) depletion processes among low-mass stars. Fast rotators appear to be less Li-depleted than equal-mass slow rotators. We intend to explore the existence of a Li depletion - rotation connection among the beta Pictoris members at an age of about 24 Myr, and to use such correlation either to confirm or to improve the age estimate based on the Lithium Depletion Boundary (LDB) modeling. We have photometrically monitored all the known members of the beta Pictoris association with at least one Lithium equivalent width (Li EW) measurement from the literature. We measured the rotation periods of 30 members for the first time and retrieved from the literature the rotation periods for other 36 members, building a catalogue of 66 members with measured rotation period and Li EW. We find that in the 0.3 < M < 0.8 Msun range, there is a strong correlation between rotation and Li EW. For higher mass stars, no significant correlation is found. For very low mass stars in the Li depletion onset, at about 0.1 Msun, data are too few to infer a significant correlation. The observed Li EWs are compared with those predicted by the Dartmouth stellar evolutionary models that incorporate the effects of magnetic fields. After decorrelating the Li EW from the rotation period, we find that the hot side of the LDB is fitted well by Li EW values corresponding to an age of 25±3 Myr in good agreement with independent estimates from the literature.Fil: Messina, S.. Catania Astrophysical Observatory; ItaliaFil: Lanzafame, A. C.. Catania Astrophysical Observatory; ItaliaFil: Feiden, G. A.. Uppsala University; SueciaFil: Millward, M.. York Creek Observatory; AustraliaFil: Desidera, S.. Osservatorio Astronomico Di Padova; ItaliaFil: Buccino, Andrea Paola. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciónes Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio. - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio; ArgentinaFil: Curtis, I.. Minor Planet Center; AustraliaFil: Jofre, Jorge Emiliano. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba. Departamento de Astrofísica Estelar; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Kehusmaa, P.. Harlingten Atacama Observatory; ChileFil: Medhi, B. J.. Aryabhatta Research Institute Of Observational Sciences; IndiaFil: Monard, B.. Klein Karoo Observatory; SudáfricaFil: Petrucci, Romina Paola. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba. Departamento de Astrofísica Estelar; Argentin

Survey of Period Variations of Superhumps in SU UMa-Type Dwarf Novae

We systematically surveyed period variations of superhumps in SU UMa-type dwarf novae based on newly obtained data and past publications. In many systems, the evolution of superhump period are found to be composed of three distinct stages: early evolutionary stage with a longer superhump period, middle stage with systematically varying periods, final stage with a shorter, stable superhump period. During the middle stage, many systems with superhump periods less than 0.08 d show positive period derivatives. Contrary to the earlier claim, we found no clear evidence for variation of period derivatives between superoutburst of the same object. We present an interpretation that the lengthening of the superhump period is a result of outward propagation of the eccentricity wave and is limited by the radius near the tidal truncation. We interpret that late stage superhumps are rejuvenized excitation of 3:1 resonance when the superhumps in the outer disk is effectively quenched. Many of WZ Sge-type dwarf novae showed long-enduring superhumps during the post-superoutburst stage having periods longer than those during the main superoutburst. The period derivatives in WZ Sge-type dwarf novae are found to be strongly correlated with the fractional superhump excess, or consequently, mass ratio. WZ Sge-type dwarf novae with a long-lasting rebrightening or with multiple rebrightenings tend to have smaller period derivatives and are excellent candidate for the systems around or after the period minimum of evolution of cataclysmic variables (abridged).Comment: 239 pages, 225 figures, PASJ accepte

Palliatiivisen hoidon ja saattohoidon säädösmuutosten kustannusvaikutusten arviointi : Laskentatyöryhmän raportti

STM:n asettama Elämän loppuvaiheen hoito -työryhmä on julkaissut kaksi selvitysraporttia (2019a, 2019b), joissa on esitetty suositukset elämän loppuvaiheen hoidon järjestämisestä Suomessa. Tässä raportissa esitetään laskelmia suositusten pohjalta esitettyjen toimintamallien ja lainsäädännön muutosehdotusten kustannusvaikutuksista. Taloudellisten vaikutusten arviointi kohdistetaan uusille tai laajeneville tehtäville. Kustannusten alueittainen jakautuminen riippuu siitä, ovatko tarkastelun kohteena erityisvastuu- vai hyvinvointialueet. Valtaosa odotetuista uusista menoista (n. 40 Me) koostuisi henkilöstön palkkauksesta (n. 33 Me). Sairaanhoitajien osuus olisi 370–418 henkilötyövuotta, lääkäreiden 46–53 ja psykologien 55 henkilötyövuotta. Perustettavien professuurien kustannuksiksi arvioitiin 0,5 Me. Ruotsin mallin mukainen saattohoitovapaata koskeva erityismääräraha tuottaisi noin 6-7 Me kustannukset. Tilamuutosten ja koulutuksen aiheuttamia kustannuksia ei arvioitu raportissa. Kustannussäästöjä on mahdollista saavuttaa omaksumalla valtakunnallisesti käytössä olevia alueiden parhaita käytäntöjä iäkkäiden palveluissa. Säästöt kumuloituvat ja hillitsevät merkittävästi kustannuskehitystä lähivuosikymmenien tulevaisuuden skenaariossa. Kustannusten hallinnassa oleellista on suositusten mukainen osaamistason nosto. Säästö tulee viiveellä ja edellyttää raportissa esitettyjä investointeja

Gamma-ray and optical oscillations of 0716+714, MRK 421, and BL Lacertae

We examine the 2008-2016 \uce\ub3-ray and optical light curves of three bright BL Lac objects, 0716+714, MRK 421, BL Lac, which exhibit large structured variability. We searched for periodicities by using a fully Bayesian approach. For two out of three sources investigated, no significant periodic variability was found. In the case of BL Lac, we detected a periodicity of ~680 days. Although the signal related to this is modest, the coincidence of the periods in both gamma and optical bands is indicative of a physical relevance. Taking into consideration previous literature results, possibly related \uce\ub3-ray and optical periodicities of about one year time scale are proposed in four bright \uce\ub3-ray blazars out of the ten examined in detail. Compared with results from periodicity search of optical archives of quasars, the presence of quasi-periodicities in blazars may be more frequent by a large factor. This suggests the intriguing possibility that the basic conditions for their observability are related to the relativistic jet in the observer direction, but the overall picture remains uncertain

Independence, institutionalization, death and treatment costs 18 months after rehabilitation of older people in two different primary health care settings

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The optimal setting and content of primary health care rehabilitation of older people is not known. Our aim was to study independence, institutionalization, death and treatment costs 18 months after primary care rehabilitation of older people in two different settings.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Eighteen months follow-up of an open, prospective study comparing the outcome of multi-disciplinary rehabilitation of older people, in a structured and intensive Primary care dedicated inpatient rehabilitation (PCDIR, n=202) versus a less structured and less intensive Primary care nursing home rehabilitation (PCNHR, n=100). Participants: 302 patients, disabled from stroke, hip-fracture, osteoarthritis and other chronic diseases, aged ≥65years, assessed to have a rehabilitation potential and being referred from general hospital or own residence. Outcome measures: Primary: Independence, assessed by Sunnaas ADL Index(SI). Secondary: Hospital and short-term nursing home length of stay (LOS); institutionalization, measured by institutional residence rate; death; and costs of rehabilitation and care. Statistical tests: T-tests, Correlation tests, Pearson’s χ², ANCOVA, Regression and Kaplan-Meier analyses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Overall SI scores were 26.1 (SD 7.2) compared to 27.0 (SD 5.7) at the end of rehabilitation, a statistically, but not clinically significant reduction (p=0.003 95%CI(0.3-1.5)). The PCDIR patients scored 2.2points higher in SI than the PCNHR patients, adjusted for age, gender, baseline MMSE and SI scores (p=0.003, 95%CI(0.8-3.7)). Out of 49 patients staying >28 days in short-term nursing homes, PCNHR-patients stayed significantly longer than PCDIR-patients (mean difference 104.9 days, 95%CI(0.28-209.6), p=0.05). The institutionalization increased in PCNHR (from 12%-28%, p=0.001), but not in PCDIR (from 16.9%-19.3%, p= 0.45). The overall one year mortality rate was 9.6%. Average costs were substantially higher for PCNHR versus PCDIR. The difference per patient was 3528€ for rehabilitation (p<0.001, 95%CI(2455–4756)), and 10134€ for the at-home care (p=0.002, 95%CI(4066–16202)). The total costs of rehabilitation and care were 18702€ (=1.6 times) higher for PCNHR than for PCDIR.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>At 18 months follow-up the PCDIR-patients maintained higher levels of independence, spent fewer days in short-term nursing homes, and did not increase the institutionalization compared to PCNHR. The costs of rehabilitation and care were substantially lower for PCDIR. More communities should consider adopting the PCDIR model.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Clinicaltrials.gov ID NCT01457300</p