Luminous quasars at the redshift frontier z > 7 serve as stringent probes of super-massive black hole (SMBH) formation and they are thought to undergo much of their growth obscured by dense gas and dust in their host galaxies. Fully characterizing the symbiotic evolution of SMBHs and hosts requires rest-frame optical observations that span spatial scales from the broad-line region (BLR) to the interstellar and circumgalactic medium (ISM and CGM). The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) now provides the necessary spatially resolved spectroscopy to do so. However, the physical conditions that regulate the interplay between SMBHs and their hosts at the highest redshifts, especially the nature of early feedback phases, remain unclear. We present JWST/NIRSpec integral field unit (IFU) observations of J0313-1806 at z = 7.64, the most distant luminous quasar known. From the rest-frame optical spectrum of the unresolved quasar, we derived a black hole mass of M-BH = (1.63 +/- 0.10)& times;10(9) M-circle dot based on H beta lambda 4861 (H beta) and an Eddington rate of lambda = L/L-Edd = 0.80 +/- 0.05, consistent with previous Mg II lambda 2800-based estimates. J0313-1806 exhibits no detectable [O III] lambda lambda 4959, 5007 emission on nuclear scales (3 sigma upper limit equivalent width of [O III] lambda 5007 < 1.42 & Aring;). Most remarkably, we did detect an ionized gas shell extending out to similar to 1.8 kpc traced by H beta emission that also lacks any significant [O III] lambda lambda 4959, 5007, with a 3 sigma upper limit on the [O III] lambda 5007 to H beta flux ratio of log(10)(F([O III])/F(H beta)) = -1.15. Through photoionization modeling, we demonstrate that the extended emission is consistent with a thin, clumpy outflowing shell where [O III] is collisionally de-excited by dense gas. We interpret this structure as a fossil remnant of a recent blowout phase, providing evidence for episodic feedback cycles in one of the earliest quasars. These findings suggest that dense ISM phases may play a crucial role in shaping the spectral properties of quasars across cosmic time.
Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) develop Alzheimer's disease neuropathological change (ADNC) by the age of 40 years, and most develop dementia by their early 50s. The frequency of co-pathologies in clinically and neuropathologically characterized adults with DS has not been systematically characterized. We characterized the frequency of ADNC and common co-pathologies, including cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), Lewy pathology (LP), limbic predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy neuropathological change (LATE-NC), hippocampal sclerosis (HS), and other cerebrovascular and macroscopic findings reported in standardized National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC) neuropathology forms in 63 adults with DS over 40 years. A secondary exploratory objective was to compare the neuropathological profiles between individuals with (n = 55) and without (n = 8) dementia from the same autopsy cohort. In the full autopsy cohort, cortical and hippocampal atrophy, and moderate-to-severe locus coeruleus hypopigmentation was a common finding. Pure ADNC, was present in only 29
A comprehensive gyrokinetic simulation model has been implemented in the global toroidal gyrokinetic code and verified for studying low-frequency waves and turbulence in magnetic fusion plasmas by treating all kinetic-MHD processes on an equal footing. A theoretical framework has been formulated to unify various methods for efficiently solving the electron drift kinetic equation in multiscale simulations by separating electron responses into analytic and non-analytic parts based on the smallness parameter of electron-to-ion mass ratio. The model can be reduced to the ideal MHD model with both the linear dispersion relation and the nonlinear ponderomotive force in theory and simulation. The model is used for the verification and validation of simulating internal kink modes in the DIII-D tokamak with accurate calculations of equilibrium parallel current and compressible magnetic perturbation. A large simulation database has been generated to train a surrogate model to predict the kink instability. Statistical analysis shows that the radial location of safety factor q = 1 flux surface, the pressure gradient, the minimum q value, and the plasma beta inside the q = 1 surface are the most important parameters for predicting the kink instability.
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the associations between executive functions (EFs) and reading in elementary school children. Framed by the unity and diversity model of EF and the direct and indirect effects model of reading, this review aimed to clarify how EFs (inhibition, shifting, and updating) uniquely contribute to reading development (word reading, listening comprehension, reading fluency, and reading comprehension). The review followed PRISMA guidelines and searched six databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest). A qualitative synthesis of 69 identified studies revealed that differences in associations between EFs and reading were shaped by the nature of the EF tasks (i.e., targeted domain, task paradigm, scoring method) and differences in reading assessments (i.e., targeted skill, format). Sixty studies (yielding 275 effect sizes) met criteria for meta-analysis, revealing significant associations between EF and reading outcomes, with updating showing the largest descriptive association. This review highlights that while EFs are related to reading, their associations vary by measurement approach. It underscores the importance of task and assessment design in interpreting the EF-reading link. Implications for theory, educational practice, and directions for future research are discussed.
As the least researched component of holistic Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA), Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) continues to face significant methodological fragmentation—hindering the integration of social dimensions in sustainability research. Despite the methodological consolidation efforts provided by the landmark 2020 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Guidelines, several challenges remain. To lay a foundation for greater coherence in S-LCA, this study conducts a critical review of 30 case studies published since the 2020 UNEP Guidelines to evaluate both emerging practices and enduring limitations. From this, four key methodological gaps are identified: (1) lack of transparency for rigor and replicability, (2) macro-scale approaches with generic data inhibiting contextualized analysis, (3) data availability limitations, and (4) need for more effective application of qualitative methods. To address these challenges, the review offers future directions, including enhanced documentation protocols, adoption of micro-scale boundaries enriched with high-resolution data, and shifting application of databases. Additionally, its discussion highlights the importance of high-fidelity data and collaboration with corporations, alongside qualitative method applications adherent to social science principles. These insights inform a flexible framework that builds from existing standards and guidelines to support rigorous, context-specific S-LCA implementation across diverse sectors and micro-scale applications.
