We obtain the first complete CCD light curves (LCs) of the contact binary AP UMi in the VRI bands and analyzed them by means of the PHOEBE code. A spotted model is applied to treat the asymmetry in the LCs. The LC morphology clearly shows the O’Connell effect and the solution shows an influence of star spots on both components. Such effect of star spots is common between the RS CVn and W UMa chromospherically active stars. Based on the obtained solution of the LCs we investigate the evolutionary state of the components and conclude that the system is a pre-intermediate contact binary (f = 0.29) with mass ratio q = 0.38, and it is an A-type W UMa system where the less massive secondary component is cooler than the more massive primary one.

We present the results of new multi-color CCD photometry for the contact binary XZ Leo, together with reasonable explanations for the period and light variations. Six new times of minimum light have been determined. A period study with all available timings confirms Qian's (2001) finding that the O-C residuals have varied secularly according to dP/dt = +8.20×10-8 d yr-l. This trend could be interpreted as a conservative mass transfer from the less massive cool secondary to the more massive hot primary in the system with a mass flow rate of about 5.37×10-8 M⊙ yr-l. By simultaneous analysis of our light curves and the previously published radial-velocity data, a consistent set of light and velocity parameters for XZ Leo is obtained. The small differences between the observed and theoretical light curves are modelled by a blue third light and by a hot spot near the neck of the primary component. Our period study does not support the tertiary light but the hot region which may be formed by gas streams from the cool secondary. The solution indicates that XZ Leo is a deep contact binary with the values of q=0.343, i=78°.8, Δ (T1-T2)=126 K, and f=33.6 %, differing much from those of Niarchos et al. (1994). Absolute parameters of XZ Leo are determined as follows: M1=1.84 M⊙, M2=0.63 M⊙, R1=1.75 R⊙, R2=1.10 R⊙, L1=7.19 L⊙, and L2=2.66 L⊙.

We completed four color light curves of the near-contact binary CN And during three nights from September to December 2004 using the 61-cm reflector and BV RI filters at Sobaeksan Observatory. We determined four new times of minimum light (two timings for primary eclipse, two for secondary). Newly obtained BV RI light curves and the radial velocity curves from Rucinski et a1. (2000) were simultaneously analyzed to derive the system parameters of CN And. We used the semi-detached mode 4 of the 2003-version of the Wilson-Devinney binary model, and interpreted the asymmetry of the light curve by introducing two spots; a cool spot on the primary component and a hot spot on the secondary component. New photometric parameters are not much different from those of Cicek et a1. (2005), and it is considered that the system is in the era of broken contact. From the orbital period study with all available timings including our data, we found a continous period decrease with a rate of Pobs = - -1.82 x 10-7 d yr-1 that can be explained with two possible mechanisms. We think the most likely cause of the period decrease is a thermal mass transfer from the primary to the secondary component, rather than angular momentum loss due to a magnetic stellar wind.

New multiband BVRI light curves of NSVS 1461538 were obtained as a byproduct during the photometric observations of our program star PV Cas for three years from 2011 to 2013. The light curves indicate characteristics of a typical W-subtype W UMa eclipsing system, displaying a flat bottom at primary eclipse and the O’Connell effect, rather than those of an Algol/ b Lyrae eclipsing variable classified by the northern sky variability survey (NSVS). A total of 35 times of minimum lights were determined from our observations (20 timings) and the SuperWASP measurements (15 ones). A period study with all the timings shows that the orbital period may vary in a sinusoidal manner with a period of about 5.6 yr and a small semiamplitude of about 0.008 day. The cyclical period variation can be interpreted as a light-time effect due to a tertiary body with a minimum mass of 0.71 M⊙. Simultaneous analysis of the multiband light curves using the 2003 version of the Wilson- Devinney binary model shows that NSVS 1461538 is a genuine W-subtype W UMa contact binary with the hotter primary component being less massive and the system shows a low mass ratio of q(mc/mh)=3.51, a high orbital inclination of 88.7°, a moderate fill-out factor of 30 %, and a temperature difference of ΔT=412 K. The O’Connell effect can be similarly explained by cool spots on either the hotter primary star or the cool secondary star. A small third-light corresponding to about 5 % and 2 % of the total systemic light in the B and V bandpasses, respectively, supports the third-body hypothesis proposed by the period study. Preliminary absolute dimensions of the system were derived and used to look into its evolutionary status with other W UMa binaries in the mass-radius and mass-luminosity diagrams. A possible evolution scenario of the system was also discussed in the context of the mass vs mass ratio diagram.