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1. A Chandra survey of z ≥ 4.5 quasars

   https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stab1042  

   Li, Jiang-Tao; Wang, Feige; Yang, Jinyi; Bregman, Joel N; Fan, Xiaohui; Zhang, Yuchen (May 2021, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society)

   null (Ed.)

   ABSTRACT X-ray observations provide a unique probe of the accretion disc corona of supermassive black holes (SMBHs). In this paper, we present a uniform Chandra X-ray data analysis of a sample of 152 z ≥ 4.5 quasars. We firmly detect 46 quasars of this sample in 0.5–2 keV above 3σ and calculate the upper limits of the X-ray flux of the remaining. We also estimate the power-law photon index of the X-ray spectrum of 31 quasars. 24 of our sample quasars are detected in the FIRST or NVSS radio surveys; all of them are radio-loud. We statistically compare the X-ray properties of our z ≥ 4.5 quasars to other X-ray samples of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) at different redshifts. The relation between the rest-frame X-ray luminosity and other quasar parameters, such as the bolometric luminosity, UV luminosity, or SMBH mass, shows large scatters. These large scatters can be attributed to the narrow luminosity range at the highest redshift, the large measurement error based on relatively poor X-ray data, and the inclusion of radio-loud quasars in the sample. The LX–LUV relationship is significantly sublinear. We do not find a significant redshift evolution of the LX–LUV relation, expressed either in the slope of this relation, or the departure of individual AGNs from the best-fitting αOX–LUV relation (ΔαOX). The median value of the X-ray photon index is Γ ≈ 1.79, which does not show redshift evolution from z = 0 to z ∼ 7. The X-ray and UV properties of the most distant quasars could potentially be used as a standard candle to constrain cosmological models. The large scatter of our sample on the Hubble diagram highlights the importance of future large unbiased deep X-ray and radio surveys in using quasars in cosmological studies. 

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2. Chromosome-scale genome assemblies and annotations for Poales species Carex cristatella , Carex scoparia , Juncus effusus , and Juncus inflexus

   https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkac211  

   Planta, Jose; Liang, Yu-Ya; Xin, Haoyang; Chansler, Matthew T; Prather, L Alan; Jiang, Ning; Jiang, Jiming; Childs, Kevin L (August 2022, G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics)

   Tribble, C (Ed.)

   Abstract The majority of sequenced genomes in the monocots are from species belonging to Poaceae, which include many commercially important crops. Here, we expand the number of sequenced genomes from the monocots to include the genomes of 4 related cyperids: Carex cristatella and Carex scoparia from Cyperaceae and Juncus effusus and Juncus inflexus from Juncaceae. The high-quality, chromosome-scale genome sequences from these 4 cyperids were assembled by combining whole-genome shotgun sequencing of Nanopore long reads, Illumina short reads, and Hi-C sequencing data. Some members of the Cyperaceae and Juncaceae are known to possess holocentric chromosomes. We examined the repeat landscapes in our sequenced genomes to search for potential repeats associated with centromeres. Several large satellite repeat families, comprising 3.2–9.5% of our sequenced genomes, showed dispersed distribution of large satellite repeat clusters across all Carex chromosomes, with few instances of these repeats clustering in the same chromosomal regions. In contrast, most large Juncus satellite repeats were clustered in a single location on each chromosome, with sporadic instances of large satellite repeats throughout the Juncus genomes. Recognizable transposable elements account for about 20% of each of the 4 genome assemblies, with the Carex genomes containing more DNA transposons than retrotransposons while the converse is true for the Juncus genomes. These genome sequences and annotations will facilitate better comparative analysis within monocots. 

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3. The Galactic bulge exploration: I. The period–absolute magnitude–metallicity relations for RR Lyrae stars for G _BP , V, G, G _RP , I, J, H , and K _s passbands using Gaia DR3 parallaxes

   https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202347338  

   Prudil, Z; Kunder, A; Dékány, I; Koch-Hansen, A J (April 2024, Astronomy & Astrophysics)

   We present a new set of period–absolute magnitude–metallicity (PMZ) relations for single-mode RR Lyrae stars calibrated for the opticalG_BP,V,G,G_RP, near-infraredI,J,H, andK_spassbands. We compiled a large dataset (over 100 objects) of fundamental and first-overtone RR Lyrae pulsators consisting of mean intensity magnitudes, reddenings, pulsation properties, iron abundances, and parallaxes measured by theGaiaastrometric satellite in its third data release. Our newly calibrated PMZ relations encapsulate the most up-to-date ingredients in terms of both data and methodology. They are intended to be used in conjunction with large photometric surveys targeting the Galactic bulge, including the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE), the Vista Variables in the Vía Láctea Survey (VVV), and theGaiacatalog. In addition, our Bayesian probabilistic approach provides accurate uncertainty estimates of the predicted absolute magnitudes of individual RR Lyrae stars. Our derived PMZ relations provide consistent results when compared to benchmark distances to globular clusters NGC 6121 (also known as M 4), NGC 5139 (also known as omega Cen), and Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, which are stellar systems rich in RR Lyrae stars. Lastly, ourK_s-band PMZ relations match well with the previously published PMZ relations based onGaiadata and accurately predict the distance toward the prototype of this class of variables, the eponymic RR Lyr itself. 

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4. Enhancing Tsunami Warning Using P Wave Coda

   https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JB018221  

   Lay, Thorne; Liu, Chengli; Kanamori, Hiroo (October 2019, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth)

   Abstract Most large tsunamis are generated by earthquakes on offshore plate boundary megathrusts. The primary factors influencing tsunami excitation are the seismic moment, faulting geometry, and depth of the faulting. Efforts to provide rapid tsunami warning have emphasized seismic and geodetic methods for quickly determining the event size and faulting geometry. It remains difficult to evaluate the updip extent of rupture, which has significant impact on tsunami excitation. TeleseismicPwaves can constrain this issue; slip under deep water generates strongpwPwater reverberations that persist as ringingP_codaafter the directPphases from the faulting have arrived. Event‐averagedP_coda/Pamplitude measures at large epicentral distances (>80°), tuned to the dominant periods of deep waterpwP(~12–15 s), correlate well with independent models of whether slip extends to near the trench or not. Data at closer ranges (30° to 80°) reduce the time lag needed for inferring the updip extent of rupture to <15 min. Arrival ofPPandPPPphases contaminates closer distanceP_codameasures, but this can be suppressed by azimuthal or distance binning of the measures. Narrowband spectral ratio measures and differential magnitude measures ofP_codaand directP(m_B) perform comparably to broader band root‐mean‐square (RMS) measures.P_coda/Plevels for large nonmegathrust events are also documented. Rapid measurement ofP_coda/Pmetrics after a large earthquake can supplement quick moment tensor determinations to enhance tsunami warnings; observation of largeP_codalevels indicates that shallow submarine rupture occurred and larger than typical tsunami (for givenM_W) can be expected. 

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5. Critical metallic phase in the overdoped random t - J model

   https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2206921119  

   Christos, Maine; Joshi, Darshan G.; Sachdev, Subir; Tikhanovskaya, Maria (July 2022, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)

   We investigate a model of electrons with random and all-to-all hopping and spin exchange interactions, with a constraint of no double occupancy. The model is studied in a Sachdev–Ye–Kitaev-like large-Mlimit with SU(M) spin symmetry. The saddle-point equations of this model are similar to approximate dynamic mean-field equations of realistic, nonrandom,t-Jmodels. We use numerical studies on both real and imaginary frequency axes, along with asymptotic analyses, to establish the existence of a critical non–Fermi-liquid metallic ground state at large doping, with the spin correlation exponent varying with doping. This critical solution possesses a time-reparameterization symmetry, akin to Sachdev–Ye–Kitaev (SYK) models, which contributes a linear-in-temperature resistivity over the full range of doping where the solution is present. It is therefore an attractive mean-field description of the overdoped region of cuprates, where experiments have observed a linear-Tresistivity in a broad region. The critical metal also displays a strong particle–hole asymmetry, which is relevant to Seebeck coefficient measurements. We show that the critical metal has an instability to a low-doping spin-glass phase and compute a critical doping value. We also describe the properties of this metallic spin-glass phase. 

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