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Reading comprehension (RC) is a multi-faceted construct but is often assessed with a single instrument. Previous research has highlighted that commonly used RC tests are only mildly correlated and vary in the skills they assess, including the differential contribution of oral language and decoding to children's performance. Our study, framed within the Simple View of Reading model, examined the contribution of underlying component skills for multiple RC measures and evaluated whether the contribution of decoding and oral language skills changes according to the RC test used and developmental level. Two hundred Slovak-speaking children were assessed across two time points, using multiple RC tests and measures of decoding and oral language skills. The RC tests showed weak to moderate correlations, echoing findings from other languages. At the end of Year 1, the contribution of decoding and oral language to RC was similar in the Slovak transparent orthography. At the end of Year 2, the contribution of oral language had increased threefold, while decoding remained unchanged from Year 1. Crucially, there were also differences between the tests, with some more reliant on oral language. The results highlight the potential benefits of increasing understanding of the differential effects of the component skills in commonly used RC assessments as an aid to interpretation of children's scores. Such an approach could not only identify children with poor scores, but also pinpoint where weaknesses lie in the underlying components so intervention targets could be formulated accordingly.

Highly oxygenated molecules (HOMs) from the atmospheric oxidation of biogenic volatile organic compounds are important contributors to secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Organic peroxy radicals (RO2) and hydroperoxy radicals (HO2) are key species influencing the HOM product distribution. In laboratory studies, experimental requirements often result in overemphasis on RO2 cross-reactions compared to reactions of RO2 with HO2. We analyzed the photochemical formation of HOMs from α-pinene and their potential to contribute to SOA formation under high (≈1/1) and low (≈1/100) HO2/RO2 conditions. As HO2/RO2 > 1 is prevalent in the daytime atmosphere, sufficiently high HO2/RO2 is crucial to mimic atmospheric conditions and to prevent biases by low HO2/RO2 on the HOM product distribution and thus SOA yield. Experiments were performed under steady-state conditions in the new, continuously stirred tank reactor SAPHIR-STAR at Forschungszentrum Jülich. The HO2/RO2 ratio was increased by adding CO while keeping the OH concentration constant. We determined the HOM's SOA formation potential, considering its fraction remaining in the gas phase after seeding with (NH4)2SO4 aerosol. An increase in HO2/RO2 led to a reduction in SOA formation potential, with the main driver being a ∼ 60 % reduction in HOM-accretion products. We also observed a shift in HOM-monomer functionalization from carbonyl to hydroperoxide groups. We determined a reduction of the HOM's SOA formation potential by ∼ 30 % at HO2/RO2 ≈1/1 compared to HO2/RO2 ≈ 1/100. Particle-phase observations measured a similar decrease in SOA mass and yield. Our study shows that too low HO2/RO2 ratios compared to the atmosphere can lead to an overestimation of SOA yields.

Oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can lead to the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA), a significant component of atmospheric fine particles, which can affect air quality, human health, and climate change. However, the current understanding of the formation mechanism of SOA is still incomplete, which is not only due to the complexity of the chemistry but also relates to analytical challenges in SOA precursor detection and quantification. Recent instrumental advances, especially the development of high-resolution time-of-flight chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS), greatly improved both the detection and quantification of low- and extremely low-volatility organic molecules (LVOCs/ELVOCs), which largely facilitated the investigation of SOA formation pathways. However, analyzing and interpreting complex mass spectrometric data remain a challenging task. This necessitates the use of dimension reduction techniques to simplify mass spectrometric data with the purpose of extracting chemical and kinetic information of the investigated system. Here we present an approach to apply fuzzy c-means clustering (FCM) to analyze CIMS data from a chamber experiment, aiming to investigate the gas phase chemistry of the nitrate-radical-initiated oxidation of isoprene. The performance of FCM was evaluated and validated. By applying FCM to measurements, various oxidation products were classified into different groups, based on their chemical and kinetic properties, and the common patterns of their time series were identified, which provided insight into the chemistry of the investigated system. The chemical properties of the clusters are described by elemental ratios and the average carbon oxidation state, and the kinetic behaviors are parameterized with a generation number and effective rate coefficient (describing the average reactivity of a species) using the gamma kinetic parameterization model. In addition, the fuzziness of FCM algorithm provides a possibility for the separation of isomers or different chemical processes that species are involved in, which could be useful for mechanism development. Overall, FCM is a technique that can be applied well to simplify complex mass spectrometric data, and the chemical and kinetic properties derived from clustering can be utilized to understand the reaction system of interest.

Heat application is known to activate transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, which play a crucial role in sensory perception, including itch. In this study, the effect of a 5-s, 49°C heat application on itch intensity in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients was evaluated. The study comprised 2 parts: a controlled trial investigating the impact of brief heat treatment on mechanically induced itch, and a real-life study of AD patients experiencing itch attacks. A significant and immediate reduction in itch sensations following heat application was shown, with effects enduring over time. This response, however, showed notable individual variability, underscoring the potential of personalized approaches in AD treatment. Repeated applications of heat showed no habituation effect, suggesting its viability as a non-pharmacological, patient-tailored option for managing itch in AD. Further research in larger cohorts is warranted to refine treatment protocols and deepen understanding of the mechanisms involved.

Highly oxygenated organic molecules (HOMs) play a pivotal role in the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Therefore, the distribution and yields of HOMs are fundamental to understand their fate and chemical evolution in the atmosphere, and it is conducive to ultimately assess the impact of SOA on air quality and climate change. In this study, gas-phase HOMs formed from the reaction of limonene with OH radicals in photooxidation were investigated with SAPHIR (Simulation of Atmospheric PHotochemistry In a large Reaction chamber), using a time-of-flight chemical ionization mass spectrometer with nitrate reagent ion (NO3--CIMS). A large number of HOMs, including monomers (C9–10) and dimers (C17–20), were detected and classified into various families. Both closed-shell products and open-shell peroxy radicals (RO2) were identified under low NO (0.06–0.1 ppb) and high NO conditions (17 ppb). C10 monomers are the most abundant HOM products and account for over 80 % total HOMs. Closed-shell C10 monomers were formed from a two peroxy radical family, C10H15Ox⚫ (x=6–15) and C10H17Ox⚫ (x=6–15), and their respective termination reactions with NO, RO2, and HO2. While C10H17Ox⚫ is likely formed by OH addition to C10H16, the dominant initial step of limonene plus OH, C10H15Ox⚫, is likely formed via H abstraction by OH. C10H15Ox⚫ and related products contributed 41 % and 42 % of C10 HOMs at low and high NO, demonstrating that the H-abstraction pathways play a significant role in HOM formation in the reaction of limonene plus OH. Combining theoretical kinetic calculations, structure–activity relationships (SARs), data from the literature, and the observed RO2 intensities, we proposed tentative mechanisms of HOM formation from both pathways. We further estimated the molar yields of HOMs to be 1.97-1.06+2.52 % and 0.29-0.16+0.38 % at low and high NO, respectively. Our study highlights the importance of H abstraction by OH and provides the yield and tentative pathways in the OH oxidation of limonene to simulate the HOM formation and assess the role of HOMs in SOA formation.

The gas-phase reaction of isoprene with the nitrate radical (NO3) was investigated in experiments in the outdoor SAPHIR chamber under atmospherically relevant conditions specifically with respect to the chemical lifetime and fate of nitrato-organic peroxy radicals (RO2). Observations of organic products were compared to concentrations expected from different chemical mechanisms: (1) the Master Chemical Mechanism, which simplifies the NO3 isoprene chemistry by only considering one RO2 isomer; (2) the chemical mechanism derived from experiments in the Caltech chamber, which considers different RO2 isomers; and (3) the FZJ-NO3 isoprene mechanism derived from quantum chemical calculations, which in addition to the Caltech mechanism includes equilibrium reactions of RO2 isomers, unimolecular reactions of nitrate RO2 radicals and epoxidation reactions of nitrate alkoxy radicals. Measurements using mass spectrometer instruments give evidence that the new reactions pathways predicted by quantum chemical calculations play a role in the NO3 oxidation of isoprene. Hydroperoxy aldehyde (HPALD) species, which are specific to unimolecular reactions of nitrate RO2, were detected even in the presence of an OH scavenger, excluding the possibility that concurrent oxidation by hydroxyl radicals (OH) is responsible for their formation. In addition, ion signals at masses that can be attributed to epoxy compounds, which are specific to the epoxidation reaction of nitrate alkoxy radicals, were detected. Measurements of methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) and methacrolein (MACR) concentrations confirm that the decomposition of nitrate alkoxy radicals implemented in the Caltech mechanism cannot compete with the ring-closure reactions predicted by quantum chemical calculations. The validity of the FZJ-NO3 isoprene mechanism is further supported by a good agreement between measured and simulated hydroxyl radical (OH) reactivity. Nevertheless, the FZJ-NO3 isoprene mechanism needs further investigations with respect to the absolute importance of unimolecular reactions of nitrate RO2 and epoxidation reactions of nitrate alkoxy radicals. Absolute concentrations of specific organic nitrates such as nitrate hydroperoxides would be required to experimentally determine product yields and branching ratios of reactions but could not be measured in the chamber experiments due to the lack of calibration standards for these compounds. The temporal evolution of mass traces attributed to product species such as nitrate hydroperoxides, nitrate carbonyl and nitrate alcohols as well as hydroperoxy aldehydes observed by the mass spectrometer instruments demonstrates that further oxidation by the nitrate radical and ozone at atmospheric concentrations is small on the timescale of one night (12 h) for typical oxidant concentrations. However, oxidation by hydroxyl radicals present at night and potentially also produced from the decomposition of nitrate alkoxy radicals can contribute to their nocturnal chemical loss.

A comprehensive chamber investigation of photochemical secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation and transformation in mixtures of anthropogenic (o-cresol) and biogenic (α-pinene and isoprene) volatile organic compound (VOC) precursors in the presence of NOx and inorganic seed particles was conducted. To enable direct comparison across systems, the initial concentration (hence reactivity) of the systems towards the dominant OH oxidant was adjusted. Comparing experiments conducted in single-precursor systems at various initial reactivity levels (referenced to a nominal base case VOC concentration, e.g. halving the initial concentration for a 1/2 initial reactivity experiment) as well as their binary and ternary mixtures, we show that the molecular interactions from the mixing of the precursors can be investigated and discuss challenges in their interpretation. The observed average SOA particle mass yields (the organic particle mass produced for a mass of VOC consumed) in descending order were found for the following systems: α-pinene (32 ± 7 %), α-pinene–o-cresol (28 ± 9 %), α-pinene at 1/2 initial reactivity (21 ± 5 %), α-pinene–isoprene (16 ± 1 %), α-pinene at 1/3 initial reactivity (15 ± 4 %), o-cresol (13 ± 3 %), α-pinene–o-cresol–isoprene (11 ± 4 %), o-cresol at 1/2 initial reactivity (11 ± 3 %), o-cresol–isoprene (6 ± 2 %), and isoprene (0 ± 0 %). We find a clear suppression of the SOA mass yield from α-pinene when it is mixed with isoprene, whilst no suppression or enhancement of SOA particle yield from o-cresol was found when it was similarly mixed with isoprene. The α-pinene–o-cresol system yield appeared to be increased compared to that calculated based on the additivity, whilst in the α-pinene–o-cresol–isoprene system the measured and predicted yields were comparable. However, in mixtures in which more than one precursor contributes to the SOA particle mass it is unclear whether changes in the SOA formation potential are attributable to physical or chemical interactions, since the reference basis for the comparison is complex. Online and offline chemical composition as well as SOA particle volatility, water uptake, and “phase” behaviour measurements that were used to interpret the SOA formation and behaviour are introduced and detailed elsewhere.

Nighttime NO3-initiated oxidation of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) such as monoterpenes is important for the atmospheric formation and growth of secondary organic aerosol (SOA), which has significant impact on climate, air quality, and human health. In such SOA formation and growth, highly oxygenated organic molecules (HOM) may be crucial, but their formation pathways and role in aerosol formation have yet to be clarified. Among monoterpenes, limonene is of particular interest for its high emission globally and high SOA yield. In this work, HOM formation in the reaction of limonene with nitrate radical (NO3) was investigated in the SAPHIR chamber (Simulation of Atmospheric PHotochemistry In a large Reaction chamber). About 280 HOM products were identified, grouped into 19 monomer families, 11 dimer families, and 3 trimer families. Both closed-shell products and open-shell peroxy radicals (RO2⚫) were observed, and many of them have not been reported previously. Monomers and dimers accounted for 47 % and 47 % of HOM concentrations, respectively, with trimers making up the remaining 6 %. In the most abundant monomer families, C10H15−17NO6−14, carbonyl products outnumbered hydroxyl products, indicating the importance of RO2⚫ termination by unimolecular dissociation. Both RO2⚫ autoxidation and alkoxy–peroxy pathways were found to be important processes leading to HOM. Time-dependent concentration profiles of monomer products containing nitrogen showed mainly second-generation formation patterns. Dimers were likely formed via the accretion reaction of two monomer RO2⚫, and HOM-trimers via the accretion reaction between monomer RO2⚫ and dimer RO2⚫. Trimers are suggested to play an important role in new particle formation (NPF) observed in our experiment. A HOM yield of 1.5%-0.7%+1.7% was estimated considering only first-generation products. SOA mass growth could be reasonably explained by HOM condensation on particles assuming irreversible uptake of ultra-low volatility organic compounds (ULVOCs), extremely low volatility organic compounds (ELVOCs), and low volatility organic compounds (LVOCs). This work provides evidence for the important role of HOM formed via the limonene +NO3 reaction in NPF and growth of SOA particles.

The aim of this research is to study the influence of factors affecting the efficiency of resource consumption under the sustainability policy based on using the DSEM-ARIMA (Dyadic Structural Equation Modeling based on the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average) model. The study is performed using the Thailand experience. The research findings indicate that continuous economic growth aligns with the country's objectives, directly contributing to continuous social growth. This aligns with the country's efficient planning. It demonstrates that the management aligns with the goal of achieving Thailand 5.0. Furthermore, considering the environmental aspect, it is found that economic and social growth directly impacts the ecological aspect due to the significant influence of resource consumption in the construction. The resource consumption in construction shows a growth rate increase of 264.59% (2043/2024), reaching 401.05 ktoe (2043), which exceeds the carrying capacity limit set at 250.25 ktoe, resulting in significant long-term environmental degradation. Additionally, considering the political aspect, it is found to have the greatest influence on the environment, exacerbating environmental damage beyond current levels. Therefore, the DSEM-ARIMA model establishes a new scenario policy, indicating that resource consumption in construction leads to environmental degradation reduced to 215.45 ktoe (2043), which does not exceed the carrying capacity. Thus, if this model is utilized, it can serve as a vital tool in formulating policies to steer the country's growth toward Thailand 5.0 effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2D materials are a promising platform for applications in many fields as they possess a plethora of useful properties that can be further optimized by careful engineering, for example, by defect introduction. While reliable high‐yield defect engineering methods are in demand, most current technologies are expensive, harsh, or non‐deterministic. Optical modification methods offer a cost‐effective and fast mechanism to engineer the properties of 2D materials at any step of the device fabrication process. In this paper, the nonlinear optical responses of mono‐, bi‐, and trilayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) flakes are enhanced by deterministic defect‐engineering with a femtosecond laser. A 50‐fold enhancement in the third harmonic generation (THG) and a 3.3‐fold increase in the second harmonic generation (SHG) in the optically modified areas is observed. The enhancement is attributed to resonant SHG and THG processes arising from optically introduced mid‐band gap defect states. These results demonstrate a highly controllable, sub‐micrometer resolution tool for enhancing the nonlinear optical responses in 2D materials, paving the way for prospective future applications in optoelectronics, quantum technologies, and energy solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The manuscript presents the case study of The Northern School for Autism in Melbourne (2013), designed by Hede Architects. The building achieved several rewards including first place in the Council of Educational Facility Planners (CEFPI) Regional Award and the CEFPI Educational Facilities Award. It appeared on the list of finalists of the World Architecture News Awards 2013. Specialist Magda Mostafa classified it as one of the most dedicated facilities for people with autism spectrum according to Autism design index ASPECTSS™ rating. Practical autism therapists have been interviewed to carry out the expert survey about the subject building. Responses have been based on photographic material and diagrams attached to the survey. Respondents have been based on so-called sensorisms, i.e. manifestations of discomfort in the receiving and processing of sensory stimuli. This symptom can be recognized in pupils’ behaviour, revealed in unfavourable conditions for people with ASD. The examined group has been also based on their own therapeutic experience during the usage of educational facilities. The survey determined the probable impact of the applied design solutions on the perception of a child on the spectrum. The special method of designing for people with autism is to follow sensory features of different spaces as the main superior design tool. As a consequence, sensor map determines building functional zones. The manuscript describes other specific architectural solutions used in the project to decrease the deleterious impact of external stimuli on the sensory integration of students. Presented survey method reveals, that designing architectural project with sensorial guidelines may have a positive effect on the concentration of attention of students on the autism spectrum. By providing appropriate educational and therapeutic conditions, students might have a chance to function better in the community and be revalidated.

This paper presents an approach to estimate demand in the Polish Power System (PPS) using the historical electricity usage of 27 thousand commercial customers, observed between 2016 and 2020. The customer data were clustered and samples as well as features were created to build neural network models. The goal of this research is to analyze if the clustering of customers can help to explain demand in the PPS. Additionally, considering that the datasets available for commercial customers are typically much smaller, it was analyzed what a minimal sample size drawn from the clusters would have to be in order to accurately estimate demand in the PPS. The evaluation and experiments were conducted for each year separately; the results proved that, considering adjusted R2 and mean absolute percentage error, our clustering-based method can deliver a high accuracy in the load estimation.

Abstract Anthropogenic nitrogen oxides may influence the cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity of biogenic secondary organic aerosols (SOA) in both daytime photooxidation and nighttime NO3 oxidation, which has significant implications for the climatic impact of SOA. We investigated the influence of NOx on the CCN activity of monoterpene‐derived SOA in OH oxidation and in NO3 oxidation. In OH oxidation, NOx had little influence on the hygroscopic parameter κ of organic aerosol (κOrg), which was attributed to the minor fraction of organic nitrates (ON) in SOA (

For understanding and assessing aerosol–cloud interactions and their impact on climate, reliable measurement data on aerosol particle hygroscopicity and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity are required. The CCN activity of aerosol particles can be determined by scanning particle size and supersaturation (S) in CCN measurements. Compared to an existing differential mobility analyzer (DMA) with CCN activity measurement, a broad supersaturation scanning CCN (BS2-CCN) system, in which particles are exposed to a range of S simultaneously, can measure the CCN activity with a high time resolution. Based on a monotonic relation between the activation supersaturation of aerosol particles (Saerosol) and the activated fraction (Fact) of the BS2-CCN measurement, we can derive κ, a single hygroscopicity parameter, directly. Here, we describe how the BS2-CCN system can be effectively calibrated and which factors can affect the calibration curve (Fact−Saerosol). For calibration, size-resolved CCN measurements with ammonium sulfate and sodium chloride particles are performed under three different thermal gradient (dT) conditions (dT=6, 8, and 10 K). We point out key processes that can affect the calibration curve and thereby need to be considered as follows: first, the shape of the calibration curve is primarily influenced by Smax, the maximum S in the activation tube. We need to determine appropriate Smax depending on the particle size and κ to be investigated. To minimize the effect of multiply charged particles, a small geometric mean diameter (Dg) and geometric standard deviation (σg) in number size distribution are recommended when generating the calibration aerosols. Last, Fact is affected by particle number concentration and has a decreasing rate of 0.02 per 100 cm−3 due to the water consumption in the activation tube. For evaluating the BS2-CCN system, intercomparison experiments between typical DMA-CCN and BS2-CCN measurements were performed with a laboratory-generated aerosol mixture and ambient aerosols. Good agreement of κ values between DMA-CCN and BS2-CCN measurements for both experiments shows that the BS2-CCN system can measure CCN activity well compared to the existing measurement method and can measure a broad range of hygroscopicity distributions with a high time resolution (∼1 s vs. a few minutes for a standard CCN activity measurement). As the hygroscopicity can be used as a proxy for the chemical composition, our method can also serve as a complementary approach for fast and size-resolved detection and estimation of aerosol chemical composition.

Nearly 60% of commercial customers are connected to a low-voltage network in Poland with a contractual capacity of more than 40 kW and are assigned a fixed tariff with flat prices for the whole year, no matter the usage volume. With smart meters, more data about how businesses use energy are becoming available to both energy providers and customers. This enables innovation in the structure and type of tariffs on offer in the energy market. Customers can explore their usage patterns to choose the most suitable tariff to benefit from lower prices and thus generate savings. In this paper, we analyzed whether customers’ electricity usage matched their optimal tariff and further investigated which of them could benefit or lose from switching the tariff based on the real dataset with the hourly energy readings of 1212 commercial entities in Poland recorded between 2016 and 2019. Three modelling approaches, i.e., the k-nearest neighbors, classification tree and random forest, were tested for optimal tariff classification, while for the benchmark, we used a simple approach, in which the tariff was proposed based on the customers’ previous electricity usage. The main findings from the research are threefold: (1) out of all the analyzed entities, on average, 76% of them could have benefited from the tariff switching, which suggests that customers may not be aware of the tariff change benefits, or they had chosen a tariff plan that was not tailored to them; (2) a random forest model offers a viable approach to accurate tariff classification; (3) the policy implication from the research is the need to increase the customers’ awareness about the tariffs and propose reliable tools for selecting the optimal tariff.

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of breath testing as a method of cancer detection in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Methods Breath analysis was performed in 35 OSCC patients prior to surgery. In 22 patients, a subsequent breath test was carried out after surgery. Fifty healthy subjects were evaluated in the control group. Breath sampling was standardized regarding location and patient preparation. All analyses were performed using gas chromatography coupled with ion mobility spectrometry and machine learning. Results Differences in imaging as well as in pre- and postoperative findings of OSCC patients and healthy participants were observed. Specific volatile organic compound signatures were found in OSCC patients. Samples from patients and healthy individuals could be correctly assigned using machine learning with an average accuracy of 86–90%. Conclusions Breath analysis to determine OSCC in patients is promising, and the identification of patterns and the implementation of machine learning require further assessment and optimization. Larger prospective studies are required to use the full potential of machine learning to identify disease signatures in breath volatiles.

This article examines financial support (especially EU Structural Funds as the main tool of cohesion policy) for investments as a lever for the development of SME innovativeness in Poland. The European Commission strongly stresses the importance of their cohesion policy and support for SMEs. European enterprises have suffered significantly from the credit crunch, and the situation could worsen as banks engage in restructuring to eliminate impaired assets from their balance sheets. Supporting SMEs and promoting entrepreneurship is essential for economic development and competitiveness, especially in less developed regions. The main aim of this study is to establish the impact of financial support for investments, especially from EU Structural Funds, on SME competitiveness in Poland. We have analyzed empirically the data drawn from CATI carried out among 805 firms. We have learned how SMEs assess the financial support from different sources along with the resulting impact on the competitiveness of SMEs. The main statistical test for relationships and dependencies was the chi-square independence test and Cramer’s V. The results of our research show that SMEs have not used financial support efficiently. Moreover, micro-enterprises were shown to be the least effective after receiving financial support from EU funds. This support often has a demand-driven effect, but it does not improve firm competitiveness.

We compared observations of aerosol particle formation and growth in different parts of the planetary boundary layer at two different environments that have frequent new particle formation (NPF) events. In summer 2012 we had a campaign in Po Valley, Italy (urban background), and in spring 2013 a similar campaign took place in Hyytiälä, Finland (rural background). Our study consists of three case studies of airborne and ground-based measurements of ion and particle size distribution from ∼1 nm. The airborne measurements were performed using a Zeppelin inside the boundary layer up to 1000 m altitude. Our observations show the onset of regional NPF and the subsequent growth of the aerosol particles happening almost uniformly inside the mixed layer (ML) in both locations. However, in Hyytiälä we noticed local enhancement in the intensity of NPF caused by mesoscale boundary layer (BL) dynamics. Additionally, our observations indicate that in Hyytiälä NPF was probably also taking place above the ML. In Po Valley we observed NPF that was limited to a specific air mass.