Bipolar ejection by the symbiotic binary system Z And during its 2006 outburst

High resolution data in the region of the line Halpha have been obtained at the time of the light maximum and after it of the 2006 optical outburst of the symbiotic binary Z And. A blue-shifted absorption component indicating outflow velocity of about 1400 km/s as well as additional emission components with similar velocities, situated on the two sides of the main peak of the line were observed during that time. It is suggested that all of them are spectral signature of bipolar outflow, observed for the first time in the optical spectrum of this binary. The emission measure and the mass of the nebular part of the streams were estimated approximately.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures; to be published in MNRAS Letter

What Powers the 2006 Outburst of the Symbiotic Star BF Cygni?

BF Cygni is a classical symbiotic binary. Its optical light curve occasionally shows outbursts of the Z And-type, whose nature is not well understood. During the 2006 August, BF Cyg underwent the recent outburst, and continues its active phase to the present. The aim of this contribution is to determine the fundamental parameters of the hot component in the binary during the active phase. For this purpose we used a high- and low-resolution optical spectroscopy and the multicolour UBV RCIC photometry. Our photometric monitoring revealed that a high level of the star’s brightness lasts for unusually long time of > 7 years. A sharp violet-shifted absorption component and broad emission wings in the Hα profile developed during the whole active phase. From 2009, our spectra revealed a bipolar ejection from the white dwarf (WD). Modelling the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the low-resolution spectra showed simultaneous presence of a warm (< 10 000 K) disk-like pseudophotosphere and a strong nebular component of radiation (emission measure of ~1061 cm−3). The luminosity of the hot active object was estimated to > 5−8×103 Lʘ. Such high luminosity, sustained for the time of years, can be understood as a result of an enhanced transient accretion rate throughout a large disk, leading also to formation of collimated ejection from the WD

Interpretation of the line spectrum of classical symbiotic stars in the scenario for their prototype Z And

Results of the study of the symbiotic binary Z And during its recent active phase 2000 -- 2010 when it experienced a series of six optical outbursts are presented. High-resolution spectra obtained during the first and fourth outburst, which was the strongest one, have been analyzed. These data are compared with results of theoretical computations. The comparison provides information about the behaviour of the system during the entire active phase rather than during an individual outburst. In particular it was found fundamental difference between the first outburst, which opened the active phase, and the recurrent outbursts - namely, the presence of bipolar collimated optical outflow during some of the recurrent outbursts. A scenario that can explain all the spectroscopic phenomena observed during this active phase as well as previous active phases of Z And is proposed. The possibility to use this scenario for explanation of the line spectrum of other classical symbiotic stars during their active phases is motivated.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figures; to be published in AIP Conf. Proc., School and Workshop on SPACE PLASMA PHYSICS, Kiten, Bulgaria; corrected typo

Belnap-Dunn semantics for natural implicative expansions of Kleene's strong three-valued matrix with two designated values

27 p.A conditional is natural if it fulfils the three following conditions. (1) It coincides with the classical conditional when restricted to the classical values T and F; (2) it satisfies the Modus Ponens; and (3) it is assigned a designated value whenever the value assigned to its antecedent is less than or equal to the value assigned to its consequent. The aim of this paper is to provide a ‘bivalent’ Belnap-Dunn semantics for all natural implicative expansions of Kleene's strong 3-valued matrix with two designated elements. (We understand the notion ‘natural conditional’ according to N. Tomova, ‘A lattice of implicative extensions of regular Kleene's logics’, Reports on Mathematical Logic, 47, 173–182, 2012.)S

The effectiveness of two silicone dressings for sacral and heel pressure ulcer prevention compared with no dressings in high‐risk intensive care unit patients: a randomized controlled parallel‐group trial

Background There is a high incidence of pressure ulcers in high-risk settings such as intensive care. There is emerging evidence that the application of dressings to pressure ulcer predilection areas (sacrum and heels) improves prevention strategies. Objectives To determine whether preventive dressings, applied to the sacrum and heels of high-risk patients in intensive care units, in addition to standard prevention, reduces the incidence of pressure ulcers. Methods Between June 2015 and July 2018, a randomized, controlled, two-arm, superiority pragmatic study was performed with a concealed 1 : 1 allocation to the intervention and control group. Patients assigned to the intervention group had dressings applied to the sacrum and heels. Results In total, 7575 patients were screened for eligibility and 475 patients were included and allocated to both groups. Finally, 212 patients in the intervention group and 210 in the control group were analysed. The mean age was 63 center dot 5 years and the majority of patients were male (65 center dot 4%). The cumulative pressure ulcer incidence category II and above was 2 center dot 8% in the intervention, and 10 center dot 5% in the control group (P = 0 center dot 001). Compared with the control group, the relative risk in the intervention group was 0 center dot 26 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0 center dot 11-0 center dot 62] and the absolute risk reduction was 0 center dot 08 (95% CI 0 center dot 03-0 center dot 13). Conclusions The results indicate that the application of dressings, in addition to standard prevention, in high-risk intensive care unit patients is effective in preventing pressure ulcers at the heels and sacrum. What's already known about this topic? Pressure ulcers are severe soft tissue injuries and wounds, which occur worldwide in all healthcare settings. Despite preventive interventions, pressure ulcers still develop. There is emerging evidence that dressings help to prevent pressure ulcers. What does this study add? The incidence of pressure ulcers in intensive care units among high-risk patients remains high. The application of dressings to the sacrum and heels, in addition to standard preventive measures, reduces the relative and absolute risks for the development of pressure ulcers. The application of preventive dressings at the heels and sacrum seems to be feasible in intensive care settings

The hydrogen and helium lines of the symbiotic binary Z And during its brightening at the end of 2002

High resolution observations in the region of the lines Halpha, He II 4686 and Hgamma of the spectrum of the symbiotic binary Z And were performed during its small-amplitude brightening at the end of 2002. The profiles of the hydrogen lines were double-peaked. These profiles give a reason to suppose that the lines can be emitted mainly by an optically thin accretion disc. The Halpha line is strongly contaminated by the emission of the envelope, therefore for consideration of accretion disc properties we use the Hgamma line. The Halpha line had broad wings which are supposed to be determined mostly from radiation damping but high velocity stellar wind from the compact object in the system can also contribute to their appearance. The Hgamma line had a broad emission component which is assumed to be emitted mainly from the inner part of the accretion disc. The line He II 4686 had a broad emission component too, but it is supposed to appear in a region of a high velocity stellar wind. The outer radius of the accretion disc can be calculated from the shift between the peaks. Assuming, that the orbit inclination can ranges from 47$^\circ$ to 76$^\circ$, we estimate the outer radius as 20 - 50 R_sun. The behaviour of the observed lines can be considered in the framework of the model proposed for interpretation of the line spectrum during the major 2000 - 2002 brightening of this binary.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy Report

Contemporaneous Observations of Direct and Raman Scattered O VI in Symbiotic Stars

Symbiotic stars are binary systems consisting of a hot star, typically a white dwarf, and a cool giant companion. The wind from the cool star is ionized by the radiation from the hot star, resulting in the characteristic combination of sharp nebular emission lines and stellar molecular absorption lines in the optical spectrum. Most of the emission lines are readily identifiable with common ions. However, two strong, broad emission lines at $\lambda\lambda$ 6825, 7082 defied identification with known atoms and ions. In 1989 Schmid made the case that these long unidentified emission lines resulted from the Raman scattering of the O VI resonance photons at $\lambda\lambda$ 1032, 1038 by neutral hydrogen. We present contemporaneous far-UV and optical observations of direct and Raman scattered O VI lines for nine symbiotic stars obtained with the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope (Astro-2) and various ground-based telescopes. The O VI emission lines are present in every instance in which the $\lambda\lambda$ 6825, 7082 lines are present in support of the Schmid Raman scattering model. We calculate scattering efficiencies and interpret the results in terms of the Raman models. Additionally, we measure the flux of the Fe II fluorescence line at $\lambda$1776, which is excited by the O VI line at $\lambda$1032, and calculate the first estimates of the conversion efficiencies of this process.Comment: 48 pages, 5 figure

A Study of an Outburst in the Classical Symbiotic Star Z And in a Colliding-Wind Model

Two-dimensional gas-dynamical modeling of the mass-flow structure is used to study the outburst development in the classical symbiotic star Z And. The stage-by-stage rise of the light during the outburst can be explained in the framework of the colliding winds model. We suggest a scenario for the development of the outburst and study the possible influence of the changes of the flow structure on the light of the system. The model variations of the luminosity due to the formation of a system of shocks are in good agreement with the observed light variations