Spectro-microscopic analysis of soot particle composition and source attribution

Ambient soot particles significantly impact Earth’s radiative balance, human health, and atmospheric visibility. Their microstructural properties depend on formation and aging mechanisms, which vary by emission source and atmospheric processes. Hence, accurately identifying sources of soot enhances our understanding of their physicochemical properties and atmospheric implications. This study used a multi-modal approach to characterize and attribute sources of sub-micron soot particles collected in Israel during new particle formation events, biomass burning episodes, and background atmospheric conditions. Synchrotron-based X-ray microscopy was used to map soot (elemental carbon), organic carbon, and inorganic species. Implemented atomic force microscopy showed highly diverse phase states, with soot consistently exhibiting a solid-like phase. Automated μ-Raman analysis was subsequently performed on ∼690 particles, identifying three soot classes based on spectral features corresponding to the “Defect” (D) and “Graphite” (G) bands of soot. We applied two-peak and five-peak fitting approaches to deconvolute the “Defect” peaks (D 1 , D 2 , D 3 , and D 4 ) and G band from average Raman spectra, revealing varying degrees of graphitic order. The degree of graphitic order was determined from metrics such as the D 3 peak area, often observed when soot was internally mixed with organic material. Raman spectral features, along with temporal variations in particle classes contributions, suggest that Particle Type 1 corresponds to traffic related soot and Particle Type 2 to less graphitic soot from biomass burning, while Particle Type 3 is associated with mixed soot-organic carbon particles observed during urban new particle formation episodes. Copyright © 2025 American Association for Aerosol Research

Quantification of the repeatability and reproducibility of the CPMA-electrometer reference mass standard for in-situ calibration of mass concentration aerosol instruments

Mass-concentration aerosol instruments require frequent calibration to provide precise and accurate measurements. Such calibrations for mass instruments can be achieved with the Centrifugal Particle Mass Analyzer (CPMA)–Electrometer Reference Mass Standard (CERMS). This study presents an interlaboratory comparison of CERMS and its two major components: the Faraday Cup Aerosol Electrometer (FCAE) and CPMA. The CERMS repeatability and reproducibility, defined as measurement precision under repeatable and reproducible measurement conditions, are evaluated. Our study was conducted in two phases: laboratory and field studies, and involved three independent laboratories. In the laboratory study, comparisons were made using soot and size-selected dioctyl sebacate (DOS) particles, using a transfer instrument. In the field, nebulized ammonium sulfate and soot from two turbine engine source exhausts, including a J85 turbojet engine, were used to compare the CERMS systems using three transfer instruments. Results indicated that the FCAEs exhibited excellent repeatability and reproducibility (<2%), while the CPMAs showed excellent repeatability (<3%) but poorer reproducibility (about 10%) due to instrument biases. In the laboratory study, the entire CERMS system demonstrated low uncertainty under repeatable conditions (3%) but higher uncertainty under reproducible conditions (∼11%). Field study uncertainties for CERMS were larger than in the laboratory (repeatability ∼8%, reproducibility ∼11%), likely due to the combined uncertainties from the transfer instruments, particle sources, CERMS components, and the less-controlled environment. Since biases between CPMAs were the major contributor to overall CERMS reproducibility, CPMA calibration could provide a significant improvement to CERMS reproducibility.

Teaching with a strength-based approach how to motivate students and build relationships by Steven Baron, Routledge, New York, 2023, pp. 211, £22.99 (Paperback), £120.00 (Hardback), ISBN: 9781032435831 (hbk), ISBN: 9781032432571 (pbk)

Reported pedestrian and bicyclist comfort with sidewalk autonomous delivery robot interactions

University campuses, characterized by robust walking networks with limited vehicle traffic and a young adult population, have become attractive sites for the deployment of sidewalk autonomous delivery robots (SADRs). Yet, college students are also more likely to adopt active travel modes and introducing SADRs on transport facilities that promote safe walking and bicycling conditions could generate traffic safety concerns. While earlier studies of SADRs have analyzed their market demand and potential as a last-mile delivery option, limited evidence exists regarding the impacts of SADRs on pedestrian and bicyclist travel. This study describes the results of a survey instrument administered to a college population with real-world experience in the adoption of automated food delivery services and interaction with SADRs as active travelers. Findings offer a profile of SADR service users and analysis of their reported comfort sharing facilities with SADRs as pedestrians or bicyclists, collected using a stated choice experiment methodology.

Product of a Wishart matrix and the conditionally elliptical random vector and its application to an elliptical regression model

We consider the product of a Wishart matrix and a conditionally elliptical random vector whose dispersion matrix depends on the Wishart matrix. We derive a stochastic representation of the product that does not involve the Wishart matrix and is composed of a chi-squared variable, a singular Gaussian vector, and an elliptical random vector. Consequently, this new representation enables us to avoid the evaluation of integrals over the space of positive semi-definite matrices when deriving the characteristic function, moments, and other distributional quantities of the product. Based on the new representation, we obtain the exact expression for the characteristic function and the first four moments. The kurtosis of the product indicates that asymptotic normality does not hold for large degrees of freedom in the Wishart matrix. Nevertheless, the multivariate Gaussian approximation performs well for large degrees of freedom and large eigenvalues of the covariance matrix of the Wishart matrix. The accuracy of the approximation is numerically investigated by applying it to an elliptical regression model with a stochastic design matrix.

Social disorganization, collective efficacy, bullying perpetration, and victimization: An empirical test

The current study offers a test of social disorganization theory to assess the effects of neighborhood-level factors on bullying perpetration and victimization. The study offers a quasi-replication the Sampson and Groves (1989) model and integrates proxy measures consistent with prior research to test the theoretical framework on bullying outcomes. Data from the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) 2019 were used to analyze a sample of adolescent youth between the ages 12 and 17 ( n  = 8,584). Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the effects of indicators consistent with social disorganization and collective efficacy on varying levels of bullying perpetration and bullying victimization. Results suggest that indicators of social disorganization (i.e., low-SES, neighborhood decay) increases the odds of bullying perpetration/victimization. Additionally, collective efficacy reduces the odds of both bullying perpetration and bullying victimization. Ecological factors beyond the context of school environments appear to be influential to bullying outcomes.

“Depth, Insight, and Relationship” Therapy with Organizational Leaders: The Case for a Hybrid Approach

The broad range of skills associated with practicing therapies of depth, insight, and relationship (DIR) can be applied to many settings outside the traditional private consulting room. In this article, we will focus on an important patient subgroup – organizational leaders. The leadership role is often the locus of intense emotions, setting the individual’s needs, conflicts, and defenses in relief. We outline a hybrid approach to working with this population that blends elements of DIR therapy with leadership coaching. Describing our experience with cases, we argue that this dual set of skills (DIR therapy and leadership coaching) enables the practitioner to stay closer to the leader’s emotional experience and to more effectively facilitate his or her growth. While we note the potential pitfalls of this hybrid approach, we suggest that interested DIR therapists would do well to acquire knowledge and experience related to organizational role functioning.

Developing a compassionate university: Insights from a longitudinal process evaluation

Compassionate communities are gaining momentum as a new public health approach emphasizing community support during times of serious illness, death, and bereavement. However, evidence on their development, particularly in higher education, is limited. This study investigates the development of a Compassionate University, examining the underlying processes and contextual factors shaping its development. A longitudinal process evaluation was conducted, using field notes right-now surveys, individual interviews, focus groups, and strategic learning debriefs. Factors that facilitated the development process included leadership support, the establishment of the Compassionate Schools Learning Network, and alignment with existing university programs. Barriers were the lack of guiding examples, the fragmented university environment, resource constraints, and limited prioritization. Cognitive and social processes that supported the work involved recognizing the value of Compassionate University and adapting implementation strategies based on empirical feedback. However, challenges such as building coherence, engaging stakeholders, and assessing the work hampered the development process.

Measurement invariance of the Death Literacy Index across Flemish Belgium, The Netherlands, and Sweden

Death literacy is a construct conceptualizing experience-based knowledge and skills for end-of-life care, which is operationalized as a six-factor model in the 29-item Death Literacy Index (DLI). The DLI has gained international interest, but its validity across countries is yet unknown. This cross-sectional study therefore assessed its measurement invariance (psychometric equivalence), across Flemish Belgium, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Translated and adapted country-specific DLI versions were developed and completed by 1516 participants in total. Results from a series of multigroup confirmatory factor analyses showed that the DLI met the conditions for configural, scalar, and metric invariance. The findings demonstrate that the DLI measures death literacy in an invariant (equivalent) way across the national samples without systematic contextual bias. Our study provides support for cross-national use of the DLI. Its potential as an appropriate instrument for comparing and evaluating impact of community competence-building interventions is discussed.

Acute leukemia during pregnancy: a single center experience with 23 cases, 2012–2022 and literature review

Acute Leukemia (AL) diagnosed during pregnancy is uncommon, and the management of AL complicated by pregnancy is a poorly studied area that faces a therapeutic dilemma. 23 cases diagnosed with AL during pregnancy were collected from our center between 2012 and 2022. Additionally, we summarized 17 clinical studies on AL diagnosed during pregnancy. Sixteen AML and seven ALL patients were diagnosed during pregnancy in our center; most patients diagnosed during the first or second trimester tended to receive chemotherapy after abortion. All patients diagnosed during the third trimester opted to defer therapy until after delivery. The rate of overall response rate (ORR) was 77.3%, which was found to be similar to that of the general population. A Short delay in initiating anti-leukemia treatment is not associated with a negative impact on prognosis. We conducted a meta-analysis of the literature, and the summary relative complete remission (CR) rate was 76.9% (95%CI 69.1–84.6%) (Random Effects Model I^2 = 66%, p  <0.001). We included four Chinese studies comprising 135 participants for further analysis. For non-M3 AL patients, CR rate of the chemotherapy-first cohort was 63.6%, compared with 68.6% in the treatment-after-delivery or abortion cohort ( p  = 0.657). For M3 patients, the rate was 100 and 83.3%, respectively ( p  < 0.001). Our findings suggest that for non-M3 AL patients can sometimes be managed during pregnancy. For M3 patients, early treatment potentially yield favorable outcomes for both the mother and fetus, using ATRA-based regimens without arsenic trioxide (in the second and third trimester) or standard chemotherapy (in the second trimester) may be considered a treatment option.