Clarkson University

About: Clarkson University is a education organization based out in Potsdam, New York, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Particle & Turbulence. The organization has 4414 authors who have published 10009 publications receiving 305356 citations. The organization is also known as: Thomas S. Clarkson Memorial School of Technology & Thomas S. Clarkson Memorial College of Technology.

PM source apportionment and health effects: 2. An investigation of intermethod variability in associations between source-apportioned fine particle mass and daily mortality in Washington, DC

Abstract: Source apportionment may be useful in epidemiological investigation of PM health effects, but variations and options in these methods leave uncertainties. An EPA-sponsored workshop investigated source apportionment and health effects analyses by examining the associations between daily mortality and the investigators' estimated source-apportioned PM(2.5) for Washington, DC for 1988-1997. A Poisson Generalized Linear Model (GLM) was used to estimate source-specific relative risks at lags 0-4 days for total non-accidental, cardiovascular, and cardiorespiratory mortality adjusting for weather, seasonal/temporal trends, and day-of-week. Source-related effect estimates and their lagged association patterns were similar across investigators/methods. The varying lag structure of associations across source types, combined with the Wednesday/Saturday sampling frequency made it difficult to compare the source-specific effect sizes in a simple manner. The largest (and most significant) percent excess deaths per 5-95(th) percentile increment of apportioned PM(2.5) for total mortality was for secondary sulfate (variance-weighted mean percent excess mortality=6.7% (95% CI: 1.7, 11.7)), but with a peculiar lag structure (lag 3 day). Primary coal-related PM(2.5) (only three teams) was similarly significantly associated with total mortality with the same 3-day lag as sulfate. Risk estimates for traffic-related PM(2.5), while significant in some cases, were more variable. Soil-related PM showed smaller effect size estimates, but they were more consistently positive at multiple lags. The cardiovascular and cardiorespiratory mortality associations were generally similar to those for total mortality. Alternative weather models generally gave similar patterns, but sometimes affected the lag structure (e.g., for sulfate). Overall, the variations in relative risks across investigators/methods were found to be much smaller than those across estimated source types or across lag days for these data. This consistency suggests the robustness of the source apportionment in health effects analyses, but remaining issues, including accuracy of source apportionment and source-specific sensitivity to weather models, need to be investigated.

Elevated personal exposure to particulate matter from human activities in a residence.

Abstract: Continuous laser particle counters collocated with time-integrated filter samplers were used to measure personal, indoor, and outdoor particulate matter (PM) concentrations for a variety of prescribed human activities during a 5-day experimental period in a home in Redwood City, CA, USA. The mean daytime personal exposures to PM(2.5) and PM(5) during prescribed activities were 6 and 17 times, respectively, as high as the pre-activity indoor background concentration. Activities that resulted in the highest exposures of PM(2.5), PM(5), and PM(10) were those that disturbed dust reservoirs on furniture and textiles, such as dry dusting, folding clothes and blankets, and making a bed. The vigor of activity and type of flooring were also important factors for dust resuspension. Personal exposures to PM(2.5) and PM(5) were 1.4 and 1.6 times, respectively, as high as the indoor concentration as measured by a stationary monitor. The ratio of personal exposure to the indoor concentration was a function of both particle size and the distance of the human activity from the stationary indoor monitor. The results demonstrate that a wide variety of indoor human resuspension activities increase human exposure to PM and contribute to the "personal cloud" effect.

Exploring the Mechanisms of Self-Control Improvement:

Abstract: Good self-control is central to success across life domains, from school to work to relationships. In this article, we provide a framework to better understand how self-control can be improved. Using cybernetic principles, we identify and integrate important mechanisms for self-control improvement that have previously been overlooked. The cybernetic model suggests that control relies on three separate processes: setting goals, monitoring when behavior diverges from goals, and implementing behavior aligned with goals. Within each of these stages, we incorporate recent research identifying key features of good self-control, including setting the “right kind” of goals; the role of conflict detection, attention, and emotional acceptance in goal monitoring; and the effects of fatigue, shifting priorities, and intentions on implementing behavioral changes. Self-control is not easy, but by revealing it as reliant on these diverse processes, we offer a more comprehensive perspective on self-control, as well as routes through which it can be improved.

Aerosol particle transport and deposition in vertical and horizontal turbulent duct flows

Abstract: Aerosol particle transport and deposition in vertical and horizontal turbulent duct flows in the presence of different gravity directions are studied. The instantaneous fluid velocity field is generated by the direct numerical simulation of the Navier–Stokes equation via a pseudospectral method. A particle equation of motion including Stokes drag, Brownian diffusion, lift and gravitational forces is used for trajectory analysis. Ensembles of 8192 particle paths are evaluated, compiled, and statistically analysed. The results show that the wall coherent structure plays an important role in the particle deposition process. The simulated deposition velocities under various conditions are compared with the available experimental data and the sublayer model predictions. It is shown that the shear velocity, density ratio, the shear-induced lift force and the flow direction affect the particle deposition rate. The results for vertical ducts show that the particle deposition velocity varies with the direction of gravity, and the effect becomes more significant when the shear velocity is small. For horizontal ducts, the gravitational sedimentation increases the particle deposition rate on the lower wall.

Gravity waves propagating into an ice-covered ocean: A viscoelastic model

Abstract: [1] A viscoelastic model is proposed to describe the propagation of gravity waves into various types of ice cover. The ice-ocean system is modeled as a homogeneous viscoelastic fluid overlying an inviscid layer. Both layers have finite thickness. The viscosity is imagined to originate from the frazil ice or ice floes much smaller than the wavelength, and the elasticity from ice floes which are relatively large compared to the wavelength. A compact form of the dispersion relation is obtained. Under proper limiting conditions this dispersion relation can be reduced to several previously established models including the mass loading model, the viscous layer model and the thin elastic plate model. The full dispersion relation contains several propagating wave modes under the ice cover. The following two criteria are used to select the dominant wave mode: (1) wave number is the closest to the open water value and (2) attenuation rate is the least among all modes. The modes selected from those criteria coincide with the ones discussed in previous studies, which are shown to be limiting cases in small or large elasticity regimes of the present model. In the intermediate elasticity regime, however, it appears that there are three wave modes with similar wavelengths and attenuation rates. Implications of this intermediate elasticity range remain to be seen. The general viscoelastic model bridges the gap among existing models. It also provides a unified tool for wave-ice modelers to parameterize the polar regions populated with various types of ice cover.