How Are Red and Blue Quasars Different? The Radio Properties

A non-negligible fraction of quasars are red at optical wavelengths, indicating (in the majority of cases) that the accretion disc is obscured by a column of dust which extinguishes the shorter-wavelength blue emission. In this paper, we summarize recent work by our group, where we find fundamental differences in the radio properties of SDSS optically-selected red quasars. We also present new analyses, using a consistent color-selected quasar parent sample matched to four radio surveys (FIRST, VLA Stripe 82, VLA COSMOS 3 GHz, and LoTSS DR1) across a frequency range 144 MHz–3 GHz and four orders of magnitude in radio flux. We show that red quasars have enhanced small-scale radio emission (∼kpc) that peaks around the radio-quiet threshold (defined as the ratio of 1.4 GHz luminosity to 6 μm luminosity) across the four radio samples. Exploring the potential mechanisms behind this enhancement, we rule out star-formation and propose either small-scale synchrotron jets, frustrated jets, or dusty winds interacting with the interstellar medium; the latter two scenarios would provide a more direct connection between opacity (dust; gas) and the production of the radio emission. In our future study, using new multi-band uGMRT data, we aim to robustly distinguish between these scenarios.

How Are Red and Blue Quasars Different? The Radio Properties

A non-negligible fraction of quasars are red at optical wavelengths, indicating (in the vast majority of cases) that the accretion disc is obscured by a column of dust which extinguishes the shorter-wavelength blue emission. In this paper we summarise recent work by our group, where we find fundamental differences in the radio properties of SDSS optically selected red quasars. We also present new analyses, using a consistent colour-selected quasar parent sample matched to four radio surveys (FIRST, VLA Stripe 82, VLA COSMOS 3 GHz and LoTSS DR1) across a frequency range 150 MHz-3 GHz and four orders of magnitude in radio flux. We show this enhancement is driven by systems with small-scale radio emission (∼kpc) and peaks around the radio-quiet threshold (defined as the ratio of 1.4 GHz luminosity to 6μm luminosity) across the four radio samples. Exploring the potential mechanisms behind this enhancement, we rule out star-formation and propose either small-scale jets or dusty winds interacting with the interstellar medium; this will be tested in detail using new multi-band uGMRT data. Overall our results cannot be explained with a simple viewing angle hypothesis, and so may point towards red quasars representing a key phase in the evolution of galaxies.

Properties of Very Broad Line MgII Radio-Loud and Radio-Quiet Quasars

We perform an analysis of the properties of radio-loud (RL) and radio-quiet (RQ) quasars with MgII broad emission line (i-band magnitude ≤19.1 and z ≤1.9), selected from the parent sample of SDSS DR7 catalogue. For sources with full-width half maxima (FWHM) greater than 15,000 km s−1 (very broad line sample; VBL) we find the radio loud fraction (RLF) to be about 40%. To further investigate this result we compare the bolometric luminosity, optical continuum luminosity, black hole (BH) mass and Eddington ratios of our VBL sample of RL and RQ quasars. Our analysis shows that in our VBL sample space, RL quasars have higher luminosities and BH mass than RQ quasars. The similarity in the distribution of their covering fraction (CF) shows that there is no difference in dust distribution between VBL RL and RQ quasars and hence dust is not affecting our results. We also find that there is no correlation of RL quasar properties with optical continuum luminosity and BH mass.

“If they believe, then so shall I”: Perceived beliefs of the in-group predict conspiracy theory belief

Conspiracy beliefs are widespread and can have detrimental consequences. As perceived social norms can exert a powerful influence on individuals, we investigated the relationship between perceived conspiracy belief norms and personal endorsement, and whether others’ conspiracy belief is overestimated. In Study 1, UK university students ( N = 111) completed measures of their personal conspiracy beliefs and estimations of others’ beliefs (an in-group and an out-group they chose, and a prescribed in-group). Perceived in-groups’ belief strongly predicted personal conspiracy belief; perceived out-group’s belief did not. Studies 2 and 3 replicated these findings in a British community sample ( N = 177) and in a UK parent sample ( N = 197), focusing on antivaccine conspiracy theories. All studies demonstrated that people overestimate the conspiracy beliefs of others. This is the first demonstration of the association between perceived in-group conspiracy belief social norms and individuals’ personal conspiracy beliefs. Interventions challenging misperceived norms could be effective in reducing conspiracy beliefs.

Higher Levels of Harsh Parenting During the COVID-19 Lockdown in the Netherlands

Previous studies on the impact of COVID-19 indicate that pandemic-related distress increases risks for child maltreatment, although data on the scope of this problem are still scarce. Here, we assessed whether parents with toddlers ( n = 206) more often used harsh discipline during the lockdown in the Netherlands compared to a matched parent sample collected prior to the pandemic ( n = 1,030). Parents were matched on background characteristics using propensity score matching. We found that harsh parenting levels were significantly elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels. Harsh parenting behaviors with a low prevalence before COVID-19 increased most strongly: shaking, calling names, and calling the child stupid. These results suggest that parental tolerance for children’s disobedience is lower under the adverse circumstances of COVID-19 and, as a result, abusive parenting responses are more difficult to inhibit. Thus, a lockdown seems to increase risks for child maltreatment, underscoring the need for effective support strategies for at-risk families.

Managing multiple roles during the COVID-19 lockdown: Not men or women, but parents as the emotional “loser in the crisis”

The COVID-19 pandemic represents a global crisis with high demands for the general population. In this research, we conducted a cross-sectional online study (N = 2278), which was diverse regarding age, employment, and family status to examine emotional well-being in times of the lockdown. We focused on inter-role conflict as a central factor associated with well-being. We tested whether individuals with high inter-role conflict (e.g. care-taker and employee) would appraise the lockdown more negatively than those experiencing low role-conflict and whether this would be associated with fatigue. In addition, we looked at gender as moderating this link. Latent modelling only showed small gender specific effects in the non-parent sample. However, in the parent sample, we found that although men experience less inter-role conflict than women on average, they coped significantly less well with it. We discuss the role of gender stereotypes in creating these psychological obstacles for men and women.

X-ray detected AGN in SDSS dwarf galaxies

ABSTRACT In this work we present a robust quantification of X-ray selected AGN in local (z ≤ 0.25) dwarf galaxies ($M_\mathrm{*} \le 3 \times 10^9 \, \mathrm{M_\odot }$). We define a parent sample of 4331 dwarf galaxies found within the footprint of both the MPA-JHU galaxy catalogue (based on SDSS DR8) and 3XMM DR7, performed a careful review of the data to remove misidentifications and produced a sample of 61 dwarf galaxies that exhibit nuclear X-ray activity indicative of an AGN. We examine the optical emission line ratios of our X-ray selected sample and find that optical AGN diagnostics fail to identify 85 per cent of the sources. We then calculated the growth rates of the black holes powering our AGN in terms of their specific accretion rates (∝ LX/M*, an approximate tracer of the Eddington ratio). Within our observed sample, we found a wide range of specific accretion rates. After correcting the observed sample for the varying sensitivity of 3XMM, we found further evidence for a wide range of X-ray luminosities and specific accretion rates, described by a power law. Using this corrected AGN sample we also define an AGN fraction describing their relative incidence within the parent sample. We found the AGN fraction increases with host galaxy mass (up to ≈6 per cent) for galaxies with X-ray luminosities between $10^{39} \, $ and $10^{42} \, \mathrm{erg\, s^{-1}}$, and by extrapolating the power law to higher luminosities, we found evidence to suggest the fraction of luminous AGN ($L_\mathrm{X} \ge 10^{42.4} \, \mathrm{erg\, s^{-1}}$) is constant out to z ≈ 0.7.

Polish adaptation of the Parents as Social Context Questionnaire (PASCQ). Towards a synthesis of parental relationship models

The article presents two experiments validating the dimensional model of parenting by Skinner, Johnson, and Snyder (2005). This model synthesizes various constructs related to parent-child relations from the recent literature. On the basis of a broad literature review, this model distinguishes three conceptual dimensions: warmth – rejection, structure – chaos, and autonomy support – coercion. Skinner et al. (2005)’s model was intended to integrate a number of theoretical constructs of parent-child relations. Thus, the distinguishability of its constituent parts is key. The following article describes a validation of the model in Poland. The first study was carried out on a sample of 969 adolescents, and the second – on a sample of 269 parents. In the adolescent sample, the measurement model achieved a good fit to data, but the individual constructs were highly intercorrelated, which weakened the rationale for distinguishing them. In the parent sample, high correlations between the constructs led to a poor fit to data. Thus, only a general measure of parent-child relation quality was obtained. A bi-factor analysis was also ran to determine the role of specific factors generated alongside the general factor. The validation was a partial success in the parent sample, for which a short version of the questionnaire measuring warmth, structure, and autonomy support was developed.

PENGARUH PROGRAM PARENTING TERHADAP PERKEMBANGAN KEMANDIRIAN ANAK USIA DINI (STUDI PADA PAUD PARAMATA BUNDA KOTA PALOPO)

This study aims to determine the effect of parenting program on the development of early child self-reliance at PAUD Paramata Bunda Palopo. The type of this research is descriptive quantitative expost facto model, which result is described in the form of percentage or number. The study population amounted to 172 people (160 parent learners, 12 teachers) parent sample of students taken 20% = 32 people (variable X). While the population as well as the sample of teachers as many as 12 people (variable Y). Data collection techniques are questionnaires, interviews, and documentation. Further analysis of quantitative descriptive data in the form of percentage technique and mean score. The results showed that the implementation of parenting programs positively influences the development of child self-reliance in PAUD Paramata Mother of Palopo City. The implication of this research is that every parent has moral obligation to participate in the implementation of educational programs so that synchronization between parent and school side toward early child development stage.