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Interpolated regulatory monitor measurements that are used to calculate the Air Quality Index (AQI) have low spatial resolution and are less accurate where regulatory monitors are sparsely distributed, especially during episodic events such as wildfires and dust storms. In this paper, an AQI map that is more responsive and accurate than current formulations with 5 km spatial and hourly temporal resolution is constructed for Southern California using interpolated concentration fields. The fine particle mass (PM2.5) fields are calculated by combining regulatory-grade monitored concentrations, low-cost sensor measurements, and Community Multiscale Air Quality Model forecasts, using Residual Kriging (RK) interpolation to account for the uncertainty of each input component. The Ozone fields are calculated by combining regulatory monitor and model forecasted concentrations using RK. The interpolated concentration fields have root mean square interpolation errors (RMSE) of 5.59 µg m−3 (PM2.5) and 6.66 ppb (Ozone), smaller than corresponding RMSE of current inverse distance weighting methods used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency AirNOW system, and a previous interpolation method used by the South Coast Air Quality Management District. The inclusion of low-cost sensor measurements makes the AQI more responsive to wildfire events, with a PM2.5 RMSE of 7.73 µg m-3, a significant improvement from the other interpolation methods. The mass of particles with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 micrometers (PM10) calculated using natural neighbor interpolation of the difference, PM10-PM2.5, and carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide fields calculated using natural neighbor interpolation, have small but usually not statistically significant reductions of RMSE relative to the other interpolation methods. Quality control and correction procedures applied to the low-cost sensor measurements are described. Display of the blended AQI data on an interactive map in real time provides an important tool for the public to minimize their exposure to poor air quality in one of the most polluted regions in the United States.

The installation of roofing materials with increased solar reflectance (i.e., “cool roofs”) can mitigate the urban heat island effect and reduce energy use. In addition, meteorological changes, along with the possibility of enhanced UV reflection from these surfaces, can have complex impacts on ozone and PM2.5 concentrations. We aim to evaluate the air-quality impacts of widespread cool-roof installations prescribed by California’s Title 24 building energy efficiency standards within the heavily populated and polluted South Coast Air Basin (SoCAB). Development of a comprehensive rooftop area database and evaluation of spectral reflectance measurements of roofing materials allows us to project potential future changes in solar and UV reflectance for simulations using the Weather Research Forecast and Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) models. 2012 meteorological simulations indicate a decrease in daily maximum temperatures, daily maximum boundary layer heights, and ventilation coefficients throughout the SoCAB upon widespread installation of cool roofs. CMAQ simulations show significant increases in PM2.5 concentrations and policy-relevant design values. Changes in 8-h ozone concentrations depend on the potential change in UV reflectance, ranging from a decrease in population-weighted concentrations when UV reflectance remains unchanged to an increase when changes in UV reflectance are at an upper bound. However, 8-h policy-relevant ozone design values increase in all cases. Although the other benefits of cool roofs could outweigh small air-quality penalties, UV reflectance standards for cool roofing materials could mitigate these negative consequences. Results of this study motivate the careful consideration of future rooftop and pavement solar reflectance modification policies.

Secondary aerosols comprise a major fraction of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) in all parts of the country, during all seasons, and times of day. The most abundant secondary species include sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, and secondary organic aerosols (SOAs). The relative abundance of each species varies in space and time as a function of meteorology, source emissions strength and type, thermodynamics, and atmospheric processing. Transport of secondary aerosols from upwind locations can contribute significantly at downwind receptor sites, especially regionally in the eastern United States, and across a given urbanized area, such as in Los Angeles. Processes governing the formation of the inorganic secondary species (sul-fate, nitrate, and ammonium) are fairly well understood, although the occurrence of nucleation bursts initiated with the formation of ultrafine sulfuric acid particles observed regionally on clean days in the eastern United States was unexpected. Because of the complex nature of organic material in air, much is still to be learned about the sources, formation, and even spatial and temporal distributions of SOAs. For example, a considerable fraction of ambient organic PM is oxidized organic species, many of which still need to be identified, quantified, and their sources and formation mechanisms determined. Furthermore, significant uncertainty (approaching 50% or more) is associated with estimating the SOA fraction of organic material in air with current methods. This review summarizes the findings of the Supersites Program and related studies addressing secondary particulate matter (PM), including spatial and temporal variations of secondary PM and its precursor species, data and methods for determining the primary and secondary fractions of PM mass, and findings on the anthropogenic and natural fractions of secondary PM.

Study design Qualitative, semi-structured interviews. Objectives Neuropathic pain (NP) can be psychologically and physically debilitating, and is present in approximately half of the spinal cord injured (SCI) population. However, under half of those with NP are adherent to pain medication. Understanding the impact of NP during rehabilitation is required to reduce long-term impact and to promote adherence to medication and psychoeducation recommendations. Setting United Kingdom. Methods Five males and three females with SCI and chronic NP, resident in rehabilitation wards at a specialist SCI center in the United Kingdom, took part. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants less than 15 months post-SCI (mean = 8.4 months). Verbatim transcripts were subject to interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Results Three super-ordinate themes were identified, mediating pain and adherence: (1) the dichotomy of safety perceptions; (2) adherence despite adversity; and (3) fighting the future. Analyses suggest that experience of the rehabilitation setting and responsiveness of care shapes early distress. Attitudes to medication and psychosocial adjustment are relevant to developing expectations about pain management. Conclusions Enhancing self-efficacy, feelings of safety in hospital, and encouraging the adoption of adaptive coping strategies may enhance psychosocial and pain-related outcomes, and improve adherence to medication. Encouraging adaptive responses to, and interpretation of, pain, through the use of interventions such as coping effectiveness training, targeted cognitive behavioral pain management, and acceptance-based interventions such as mindfulness, is recommended in order to reduce long-term reliance on medication.

We studied the predictive impact of proxy “outsider” reports, injury type, and functional independence on trajectories of happiness over the first 5 years following medical treatment for a traumatic spinal cord injury, brain injury, severe burns or inter-articular fractures (total N  = 1,271). It was anticipated that lower functional independence and outsider status would predict lower happiness trajectories, with injury type having little effect over time. A measure of functional impairment and the life satisfaction index containing the items that assessed happiness were administered 12, 24, 48, and 60 months post-discharge. Trajectory modeling revealed that lower functional independence significantly predicted lower happiness, regardless of injury type. Outsider reports predicted significantly higher happiness scores than the insiders reported themselves. These differences persisted across time and injury type. Additional analyses found that insider/outsider status accounted for one percent of the variance in happiness scores and functional independence accounted for twenty percent of the variance. Moreover, for all injury groups, there was no evidence for changes in happiness trajectories over time. Outsider accounts differ significantly from insider estimations of variables of positive adjustment accounts but explain little variation in the reports of happiness overall and still have practical and clinical value as secondary sources of information about positive emotional experiences, particularly when reports from the “insider” are not possible.

Identifying reliable predictors of positive adjustment following traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains an important area of inquiry. Unfortunately, much of available research examines direct relationships between predictor variables and outcomes without attending to the contextual relationships that can exist between predictor variables. Relying on theoretical models of well-being, we examined a theoretical model of adjustment in which the capacity to engage in intentional activities would be prospectively associated with greater participation, which in turn would predict subsequent life satisfaction and perceived health assessed at a later time. Structural equation modeling of data collected from 312 individuals (226 men, 86 women) with TBI revealed that two elements of participation—mobility and occupational activities—mediated the prospective influence of functional independence and injury severity to optimal adjustment 60 months following medical discharge for TBI. The model accounted for 21% of the variance in life satisfaction and 23% of the variance in self-rated health. Results indicate that the effects of functional independence and injury severity to optimal adjustment over time may be best understood in the context of participation in meaningful, productive activities. Implications for theoretical models of well-being and for clinical interventions that promote adjustmentafter TBI are discussed.

Musicians commonly speak of mental practice and score analysis in referring to strategies widely used by performers. However, these terms may not be universally understood in the same way. To address this, 89 experienced musicians were surveyed as to their views and experiences concerning mental practice and score analysis, using a mixture of closed/rating scale and open-ended questions. They were asked what they understood by these terms and what information these strategies enabled them to obtain from the score. Results suggest that mental practice and score analysis are both considered useful, though mental practice more so. Content analysis identified the main characteristics of mental practice as-occurring away from the instrument; involving several types of imagery, often in real time; and focusing on performance preparation, particularly aspects of execution and realization. During mental practice, the score tended to function more as a memory aid, an orientation guide, and as a point of reference for interpretation. Score analysis was considered more theoretical, though still relevant for performance preparation at a range of levels from exploratory to detailed. During score analysis, information primarily increased musical understanding of the piece, and related to both structural (e.g., form, harmony) and aesthetic (e.g., tempo, phrasing) aspects. The findings are discussed in terms of the current understanding of mental practice and score analysis in the literature, and the relationship between them. Mental practice and score analysis do have similarities, such as their benefit to performance preparation, and distinctions, for instance, concerning their specific aims. However, they may be best considered as lying on a continuum of strategies for performance practice and enhancement, rather than as two distinct behaviors.

A periodic review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will assess the standards with respect to levels, particle size, and averaging times. Some members of the scientific community in the United States and Europe have suggested the use of PM 1 instead of PM 2.5 as the fine particle measurement standard. This proposed standard is intended to reduce the influence of coarse particle sources on PM 2.5 , because some evidence suggests that PM 1-2.5 is dominated by coarse particulate matter (PM) sources. In this study, coarse (PM 2.5-10 ), intermodal (PM 1-2.5 ), and fine (PM 2.5 ) mass concentrations at four different sites are measured with continuous and time-integrated sampling devices. The main objective is to compare variations in these three size ranges while considering the effects of location, sources, weather, wind speed, and wind direction. Results show strong correlations between PM 1 and intermodal PM in receptor sites. The contribution of PM 1-2.5 to PM 2.5 is highest in the summer months, most likely due to enhanced long-range transport. Coarse PM is poorly correlated with intermodal PM. Continuous data suggest that PM 1 is growing into PM 1-2.5 via complex processes involving stagnation of the aerosol during high relative humidity conditions, followed by advection during daytime hours

Cellphones can, however, result in slower reaction times to potential hazards, regardless if handheld or hands free. 5 6 Texting while driving is especially dangerous because it combines the three main types of distraction.; Recently, researchers found, during unobtrusive observations, that drivers dialling a cellphone were 2.8 times more likely to crash, 6 while a simulator study found that those engaged in texting while driving were 6 times more likely to crash than non-distracted drivers. 7 Overall, in the USA, an estimated 1006 individuals died (138 adolescents) 8 and 23 883 (4958 adolescents) were injured in MVCs involving cellphones in 2009.