Properties of the detached F-type eclipsing binary,BK Pegasi

A misunderstanding of our interpretation of photometry of the detached eclipsing binary, BK Peg, is clarified.     

Transit or occultation?

Published discussions of photometric observations of VZ Hya and CM Lac disagree as to whether the deeper eclipses are transits or occultations. The evolutionary histories of these systems are critically dependent on a resolution of the disagreement. The luminosity ratio of the components of VZ Hya, inferred from spectrograms, shows unequivocally that the deeper eclipse is a transit. The case of CM Lac is less definitive. While the photometric observations favor primary minimum as a transit, the ratio of the radii is close to unity, and neither the spectrograms nor the photometry leads to an unequivocal result. Some confusion in notation appearing in a discussion of the components of EI Cep is noted. In each of the three cases the observational evidence favors a straightforward evolutionary interpretation in which the more massive star is the larger.     

The Inner Ear and its Coupling to the Swim Bladder in the Deep-Sea Fish Antimora rostrata (Teleostei: Moridae)

The inner ear structure of Antimora rostrata and its coupling to the swim bladder were analyzed and compared with the inner ears of several shallow-water species that also have similar coupling. The inner ear of Antimora has a long saccular otolith and sensory epithelium as compared to many other fishes. Some parts of the membranous labyrinth are thick and rigid, while other parts are thinner but attached tightly to the bony capsule. The partially rigid membranous labyrinth, along with its intimate connection to the swim bladder, may help the inner ear follow the sound oscillations from the swim bladder with better precision than would occur in a less rigid inner ear. In addition, the saccular sensory epithelium has an elaborate structure and an anterior enlargement that may be correlated with increased hearing sensitivity. Some of the features in the inner ear of Antimora may reflect the functional specialization of deep-water living and support the hypothesis that there is enhanced inner ear sensitivity in some deep-sea fishes.