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Highlights • ePIRLS 2016 is a new assessment of online reading skills of primary school pupils. • Spending time on the internet is positively associated with ePIRLS achievement. • Higher achievers in reading use computers less frequently for schoolwork at home. • Better online readers also use computers less frequently for schoolwork at school. • Owning a smart-phone is negatively associated with paper-based reading. Abstract Online reading necessitates the use of both similar and different skills to traditional paper-based reading. Therefore, some overlap is likely in the background and attitudinal factors associated with reading in the two modes. This study uses a multilevel framework and data from the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS, 2016) to explore the characteristics associated with online and paper-based reading in Ireland. Of independent variables examined, pupil reading confidence has the largest effect size for both PIRLS and ePIRLS. Home background variables have similar effect sizes for the two outcomes. Differences between the models emerge regarding time spent browsing the internet, the frequency of using a computer at school, pupil enjoyment of reading, and pupil ownership of a smartphone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper is a material exhibiting a complex microstructure that is composed of a network of fibres at the micro-level. When subjected to external loading or variations in moisture conditions over different time scales, changes in strain that are non-linear with respect to time are observed at the sheet level (macro-scale). In order to investigate this time-dependent behaviour of paper, a creep power law model is implemented within a finite element approach at the level of single fibres. This rate-dependent model is found to capture experimental results available in literature for single fibres with a good agreement (both quantitatively and qualitatively). Based on the identified model at the level of single fibres, the time-dependent hygro-mechanical response is upscaled towards the network scale. To this end, random model networks of ribbon shaped fibres are generated and their response is simulated. The network-scale response, emerging from the rate-dependent fibre model, demonstrates the ability to predict the response of networks subjected to relaxation at a constant moisture level. The developed numerical model predicts lower values of overall stress response in single fibres as compared to networks. Also, stress relaxation predicted by the rate-dependent model in the cross-direction of the networks is in agreement with the experimental observations by Johanson and Kubát (1967). Therefore, one of the remarkable findings of the present work is that the developed rate-dependent model is robust enough to capture the sheet scale response also qualitatively. Based on the study of these computational results, a better understanding is achieved regarding the influence of mechanical and rate-dependent properties of single fibres on the hygro-expansion of complete fibre networks, and in particular of paper sheets. • A rate-dependent non-linear model is developed to study creep in paper networks. • It is calibrated with experiments on the single paper fibres with a good match. • It also captures the experimental response of the networks qualitatively. • One of the remarkable achievement of our work is the robustness of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world Rock, Paper, Scissors championships are an annual Toronto tradition that pits the world's greatest Rock, Paper, Scissors championship against one another each year in not-so-mortal combat for a grand prize of $5000. Many people were preparing their weapons and talking strategy. Each participant was given a rulebook, a schedule, a waiver and the arena where they would be competing the "Round of 512." Before the "Round of 256" started, the author asked "Pencil-vannia" what his chances were of getting to the end; he said 1 in 256."