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Ammonia is a significant precursor of PM 2.5 particles and thus contributes to poor air quality in many regions. Furthermore, ammonia concentrations are rising due to the increase of large-scale, intensive agricultural activities, which are often accompanied by greater use of fertilizers and concentrated animal feedlots. Ammonia is highly reactive and thus highly variable and difficult to measure. Satellite-based instruments, such as the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) and the Cross-Track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), have been shown to provide much greater temporal and spatial coverage of ammonia distribution and variability than is possible with in situ networks or aircraft campaigns, but the validation of these data is limited. Here we evaluate MUSES (multi-spectra, multi-species, multi-sensors) ammonia retrievals from AIRS and CrIS against ammonia measurements from aircraft in the California Central Valley and in the Colorado Front Range. These are small datasets taken over high-source regions under very different conditions: winter in California and summer in Colorado. Direct comparisons of the surface values of the retrieved profiles are biased very low in California (∼ 40 ppbv) and slightly high in Colorado (∼ 4 ppbv). This bias appears to be primarily due to smoothing error, since applying the instrument operator effectively reduces the bias to zero; even after the smoothing error is accounted for, the average uncertainty at the surface is in the 20 %–30 % range. We also compare 3 years of CrIS ammonia against an in situ network in the Magic Valley in Idaho We show that CrIS ammonia captures both the seasonal signal and the spatial variability in the Magic Valley, although it is biased low here also. In summary, this analysis substantially adds to the validation record but also points to the need for more validation under many different conditions and at higher altitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The preferences of autism stakeholders regarding the top priorities for future autism research are largely unknown. Objective: This study had two objectives: First, to examine what autism stakeholders think new research investments should be and the attributes of investment that they consider important, and second, to explore the feasibility, acceptability and outcomes of two prioritization exercises among autism stakeholders regarding their priorities for future research in autism. Design: This was a prospective stakeholder‐engaged iterative study consisting of best–worst scaling (BWS) and direct prioritization exercise. Setting and Participants: A national snowball sample of 219 stakeholders was included: adults with autism, caregivers, service providers and researchers. Main Outcome Measures: The main outcomes measures were attributes that participants value in future research investments, and priority research investments for future research. Results: Two hundred and nineteen participants completed the exercises, of whom 11% were adults with autism, 58% were parents/family members, 37% were service providers and 21% were researchers. Among stakeholders, the BWS exercises were easier to understand than the direct prioritization, less frequently skipped and yielded more consistent results. The proportion of children with autism affected by the research was the most important attribute for all types of stakeholders. The top three priorities among future research investments were (1) evidence on which child, family and intervention characteristics lead to the best/worst outcomes; (2) evidence on how changes in one area of a child's life are related to changes in other areas; and (3) evidence on dietary interventions. Priorities were similar for all stakeholder types. Conclusions: The values and priorities examined here provide a road map for investigators and funders to pursue autism research that matters to stakeholders. Patient or Public Contribution: Stakeholders completed a BWS and direct prioritization exercise to inform us about their priorities for future autism research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the developments in the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the enactment of similar consumer privacy laws in Colorado and Virginia. Topics discussed include the legislative amendments to the CCPA, the establishment of the California Privacy Protection Agency by the California Privacy Rights Act of 2020, amendments to the CCPA that were effective on March 15, 2021, and the objective of the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act.

Prominent economists have supposed that the private production of full‐bodied gold or silver coins is inefficient: due to information asymmetry, private coins will be chronically low‐quality or underweight. An examination of private mints during gold rushes in the US in the years 1830–63, drawing on contemporary accounts and numismatic literature, finds otherwise. While some private gold mints produced underweight coins, from incompetence or fraudulent intent, such mints did not last long. Informed by newspapers about the findings of assays, money‐users systematically abandoned substandard coins in favour of full‐weight coins. Only competent and honest mints survived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]