Radio and X-ray observations of an exceptional radio flare in the extreme z=4.72 blazar GB B1428+4217

We report on the extreme behaviour of the high redshift blazar GB B1428+4217 at z=4.72. A continued programme of radio measurements has revealed an exceptional flare in the lightcurve, with the 15.2 GHz flux density rising by a factor ~3 from ~140 mJy to ~430 mJy in a rest-frame timescale of only ~4 months -- much larger than any previous flares observed in this source. In addition to new measurements of the 1.4-43 GHz radio spectrum we also present the analysis and results of a target-of-opportunity X-ray observation using XMM-Newton, made close to the peak in radio flux. Although the X-ray data do not show a flare in the high energy lightcurve, we are able to confirm the X-ray spectral variability hinted at in previous observations. GB B1428+4217 is one of several high-redshift radio-loud quasars that display a low energy break in the X-ray spectrum, probably due to the presence of excess absorption in the source. X-ray spectral analysis of the latest XMM-Newton data is shown to be consistent with the warm absorption scenario which we have hypothesized previously. Warm absorption is also consistent with the observed X-ray spectral variability of the source, in which the spectral changes can be successfully accounted-for with a fixed column density of material in which the ionization state is correlated with hardness of the underlying power-law emission.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, MNRAS accepte

The Obscured X-ray Background and Evolution of AGN

The X-ray Background has been resolved in the 0.5-5keV band and found to consist mostly of both unabsorbed and absorbed AGN with column densities <1e23. This contrasts with the local AGN population where the column density range extends to Compton-thick objects and beyond (>1e24). Stacking analysis of the integrated emission of sources detected by XMM-Newton in the Lockman Hole, and by Chandra in the CDF-N and S reveals that the resolved fraction of the X-ray Background drops above 6keV and is about 50% above 8keV. The missing flux has the spectrum of highly absorbed AGN, making it likely that the range of column density at redshift one is similar to that locally, and that many AGN are as yet undetected in well-studied fields.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, to appear in "Growing Black Holes", eds. A. Merloni, S. Nayakshin, R. Sunyaev, Springel-Verlag series of "ESO Astrophysics Symposia

Can the unresolved X-ray background be explained by emission from the optically-detected faint galaxies of the GOODS project?

The emission from individual X-ray sources in the Chandra Deep Fields and XMM-Newton Lockman Hole shows that almost half of the hard X-ray background above 6 keV is unresolved and implies the existence of a missing population of heavily obscured active galactic nuclei (AGN). We have stacked the 0.5-8 keV X-ray emission from optical sources in the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey (GOODS; which covers the Chandra Deep Fields) to determine whether these galaxies, which are individually undetected in X-rays, are hosting the hypothesised missing AGN. In the 0.5-6 keV energy range the stacked-source emission corresponds to the remaining 10-20 per cent of the total background -- the fraction that has not been resolved by Chandra. The spectrum of the stacked emission is consistent with starburst activity or weak AGN emission. In the 6-8 keV band, we find that upper limits to the stacked X-ray intensity from the GOODS galaxies are consistent with the ~40 per cent of the total background that remains unresolved, but further selection refinement is required to identify the X-ray sources and confirm their contribution.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication in MNRA

XMM-Newton observations of GB B1428+4217: confirmation of intrinsic soft X-ray absorption

We report the results of XMM-Newton observations of the X-ray bright, radio-loud blazar GB B1428+4217 at a redshift of z=4.72. We confirm the presence of soft X-ray spectral flattening at energies <0.7 keV as reported in previous ROSAT and BeppoSAX observations. At hard X-ray energies the spectrum is consistent with a power-law although we find the spectral slope varied between both XMM-Newton observations and is also significantly different from that reported previously. Whilst we cannot rule-out intrinsic cold absorption to explain the spectral depression, we favour a dust-free warm absorber. Cold absorption requires a column density ~1.4-1.6 x 10^22 cm^-2 whilst a warm absorber could have up to ~10^23 cm^-2 and an ionization parameter ~10^2. The spectrum of GB B1428+4217 shows remarkable parallels with that of the z=4.4 blazar PMN J0525-3343, in which the available evidence is also most consistent with a warm absorber model.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, MNRAS accepted. Minor changes to sections 3.1 and

Types and correlates of school non-attendance in students with autism spectrum disorders

School non-attendance in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has received very little attention to date. The study aimed to provide a comprehensive description of school non-attendance in students with ASD. Through an online survey, parents of 486 children (mean age 11 years) reported on school attendance over one month, and reasons for instances of non-attendance. On average, students missed five days of school of a possible 23 days. Persistent non-attendance (absent on 10%+ of available sessions) occurred among 43% of students. School non-attendance was associated with child older age, not living in a two-parent household, parental unemployment and, especially, attending a mainstream school. School refusal accounted for 43% of non-attendance. School exclusion and school withdrawal each accounted for 9% of absences. Truancy was almost non-existent. Non-problematic absenteeism (mostly related to medical appointments and illness) accounted for 32% of absences. Non-problematic absenteeism was more likely among those with intellectual disability, school refusal was more likely among older students, and school exclusion was more likely among students from single-parent, unemployed, and well educated households. Findings suggest school non-attendance in ASD is a significant issue, and that it is important to capture detail about attendance patterns and reasons for school non-attendance

Stochastic geometry and topology of non-Gaussian fields

Gaussian random fields pervade all areas of science. However, it is often the departures from Gaussianity that carry the crucial signature of the nonlinear mechanisms at the heart of diverse phenomena, ranging from structure formation in condensed matter and cosmology to biomedical imaging. The standard test of non-Gaussianity is to measure higher order correlation functions. In the present work, we take a different route. We show how geometric and topological properties of Gaussian fields, such as the statistics of extrema, are modified by the presence of a non-Gaussian perturbation. The resulting discrepancies give an independent way to detect and quantify non-Gaussianities. In our treatment, we consider both local and nonlocal mechanisms that generate non-Gaussian fields, both statically and dynamically through nonlinear diffusion.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

Back to live: Returning to in-person engagement with arts and culture in the Liverpool City Region

On July 19th 2021, the UK government lifted the COVID-19 restrictions that had been in place since March 2020, including wearing masks, social distancing, and all other legal requirements. The return to in-person events has been slow and gradual, showing that audiences are still cautious when (and if) they resume engaging in arts and culture. Patterns of audience behavior have also changed, shifting toward local attendance, greater digital and hybrid engagement, and openness to event format changes. As the arts and cultural industry recovers from the pandemic, it is important to adopt an audience-oriented approach and look at the changing patterns of engaging in arts and culture. This study aims to better understand the impact of the pandemic on the patterns of cultural and arts engagement. Eight qualitative interviews were conducted to explore the changes in arts and cultural engagement since the restrictions were lifted, focusing particularly on the audience’s experiences of returning to in-person arts and cultural events in the Liverpool City Region (LCR). Using framework analysis, three themes were identified from the data: The new normal: reframing pre-pandemic and pandemic experiences of arts and culture, Re-adjusting to in-person provision, and Moving forward: online and blended provision. The findings show that the pandemic altered the ways that people engage in arts and culture. The “new normal,” a blend of pandemic and pre-pandemic experiences, illustrates how the pandemic has highlighted and reconfigured the importance of arts and culture, in terms of personal and cultural identity. Resuming in-person engagement after a long break, participants noted that they were able to feel more like themselves again. Arts and culture were perceived to be beneficial in rebuilding personal resilience and confidence. Engaging in arts and culture, following the isolating experience of the pandemic, has also helped participants feel reconnected to others through their shared experiences. Finally, the findings suggest that online provision remains vital for many, ensuring wider inclusivity, particularly for vulnerable audiences. At the same time, it is important to acknowledge the barriers to online inclusion and the possibility of this resulting in a growing digital divide

Income differences in food consumption in the 1995 Australian national nutrition survey

Objective: To assess the relationships between an index of per capita income and the intake of a variety of individual foods as well as groups of food for men and women in different age groups. Design: Cross-sectional national survey of free-living men and women. Subjects: A sample of 5053 males and 5701 females aged 18 y and over who completed the Australian National Nutrition Survey 1995. Methods: Information about the frequency of consumption of 88 food items was obtained. On the basis of scores on the Food Frequency Questionnaire, regular and irregular consumers of single foods were identified. The relationships between regularity of consumption of individual foods and per capita income were analysed via contingency tables. Food variety scores were derived by assigning individual foods to conventional food group taxonomies, and then summing up the dichotomised intake scores for individual foods within each food group. Two-way ANOVA (income age group) were performed on the food variety scores for males and females, respectively. Results: Per capita income was extensively related to the reported consumption of individual foods and to total and food group variety indices. Generally, both men and women in low income households had less varied diets than those in higher-income households. However, several traditional foods were consumed less often by young high-income respondents, especially young women. Conclusions: Major income differentials in food variety occur in Australia but they are moderated by age and gender. Younger high-income women, in particular, appear to have rejected a number of traditional foods, possibly on the basis of health beliefs. The findings also suggest that data aggregation has marked effects on income and food consumption relationships.<br /

Understanding meal patterns: definitions, methodology and impact on nutrient intake and diet quality

Traditionally, nutrition research has focused on individual nutrients, and more recently dietary patterns. However, there has been relatively little focus on dietary intake at the level of a \u27meal\u27. The purpose of the present paper was to review the literature on adults\u27 meal patterns, including how meal patterns have previously been defined and their associations with nutrient intakes and diet quality. For this narrative literature review, a comprehensive search of electronic databases was undertaken to identify studies in adults aged &ge;&nbsp; 19 years that have investigated meal patterns and their association with nutrient intakes and/or diet quality. To date, different approaches have been used to define meals with little investigation of how these definitions influence the characterisation of meal patterns. This review identified thirty-four and fourteen studies that have examined associations between adults\u27 meals patterns, nutrient intakes and diet quality, respectively. Most studies defined meals using a participant-identified approach, but varied in the additional criteria used to determine individual meals, snacks and/or eating occasions. Studies also varied in the types of meal patterns, nutrients and diet quality indicators examined. The most consistent finding was an inverse association between skipping breakfast and diet quality. No consistent association was found for other meal patterns, and little research has examined how meal timing is associated with diet quality. In conclusion, an understanding of the influence of different meal definitions on the characterisation of meal patterns will facilitate the interpretation of the existing literature, and may provide guidance on the most appropriate definitions to use