scholarly journals A research of subjective evaluations of the thermal comfort of business clothing evaluated in warm and slightly cold environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 22-30
Author(s):  
Damjana Celcar
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Thermal State ◽  
Subjective Evaluation ◽  
Subjective Feeling ◽  
Additional Layer ◽  
Subjective Evaluations ◽  
Business Clothing ◽  
The Impact

This paper presents a study of subjective assessments of thermal comfort when wearing business clothing made from conventional textiles, such as wool and blends with wool and textiles combined with phase-change materials (PCMs), which are capable of providing adequate thermal physiological comfort to the wearer. The evaluation of thermal comfort was carried out on the basis of determining the subjective feeling of thermal comfort with the help of test subjects in a computer controlled climatic chamber, in artificially created warm and slightly cold environmental conditions, at ambient temperature of 25°C, 20°C, 15°C and 10°C. The impact of particular business clothing systems and varied environmental conditions on the wearer's subjective feeling of thermal comfort was determined with a questionnaire and an assessment scale of thermal comfort defined by standard ISO 10551:1995. For this purpose, an analysis of the subjective evaluation of thermal comfort, the desired thermal state, the acceptability of the current situation and their personal tolerance of the environment, was made before, during and after each experiment. The results of the research show that subjective evaluations of thermal comfort directly depend on environmental conditions, as well as clothing systems and activity levels. It was found that the test subjects felt most comfortable in the selected business clothing at an ambient temperature of 20°C and 15°C. It is also evident from the results that at an ambient temperature of 25°C, the persons in the selected clothing felt slightly uncomfortable, especially during and after walking when they felt hot. The test subjects felt uncomfortable also at an ambient temperature of 10°C, when they felt cold or slightly cold while wearing the analysed 3-layer clothing systems without an additional layer of clothing. This indicates that an additional layer of clothing, such as a coat is needed for performing adequate thermal comfort around and below 10°C.

scholarly journals A SUBJECTIVE EVALUATION OF THE THERMAL COMFORT OF CLOTHING EVALUATED IN COLD ENVIRONMENT

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Damjana Celcar
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Phase Change Materials ◽  
Thermal State ◽  
Subjective Evaluation ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Subjective Feeling ◽  
Business Clothing ◽  
The Impact

In this study, the thermal comfort of clothing was subjectively evaluated in cold environmental conditions. Different male business clothing systems, made of standard textiles (wool and wool-mixture), and materials that contain phase-change materials (PCMs), were developed. The research was performed with the help of test subjects in a computer controlled climatic chamber, in artificially created cold environmental conditions, at ambient temperatures of 10 °C, 5 °C and 0 °C, and with physical activity that is as reminiscent as possible of the real life situation of wearing clothes, such as sitting and walking on a treadmill. The impact of particular business clothing systems and varied cold environmental conditions on the wearer’s subjective feeling of thermal comfort was determined with a questionnaire and an assessment scale of thermal comfort defined by standard ISO 10551:2004. For this purpose, an analysis of the subjective evaluation of thermal comfort, the desired thermal state, the acceptability of the current situation and their personal tolerance of the environment, was made before, during and after each experiment. The results of the research show that subjective evaluations of thermal comfort directly depend on environmental conditions, as well as clothing systems. From this subjective evaluation it can be seen that in spite of lower mean skin temperatures the test subjects felt comfortable at an ambient temperature of 10 °C. It is also evident that the analysed clothing systems are not suitable for wearing below an ambient temperature of 0 °C, because the test subjects felt uncomfortable.

scholarly journals An Investigation of the Effects of Changes in the Indoor Ambient Temperature on Arousal Level, Thermal Comfort, and Physiological Indices

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 899 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jongseong Gwak ◽  
Motoki Shino ◽  
Kazutaka Ueda ◽  
Minoru Kamata
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Task Performance ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Subjective Evaluation ◽  
Arousal Level ◽  
Mathematical Task ◽  
Physiological Indices ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
And Task

Thermal factors not only affect the thermal comfort sensation of occupants, but also affect their arousal level, productivity, and health. Therefore, it is necessary to control thermal factors appropriately. In this study, we aim to design a thermal environment that improves both the arousal level and thermal comfort of the occupants. To this end, we investigated the relationships between the physiological indices, subjective evaluation values, and task performance under several conditions of changes in the indoor ambient temperature. In particular, we asked subjects to perform a mathematical task and subjective evaluation related to their thermal comfort sensation and drowsiness levels. Simultaneously, we measured their physiological parameters, such as skin temperature, respiration rate, electroencephalography, and electrocardiography, continuously. We investigated the relationship between the comfort sensation and drowsiness level of occupants, and the physiological indices. From the results, it was confirmed that changes in the indoor ambient temperature can improve both the thermal comfort and the arousal levels of occupants. Moreover, we proposed the evaluation indices of the thermal comfort and the drowsiness level of occupants using physiological indices.

scholarly journals Resilience of Small Ruminants to Climate Change and Increased Environmental Temperature: A Review

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleena Joy ◽  
Frank R. Dunshea ◽  
Brian J. Leury ◽  
Iain J. Clarke ◽  
Kristy DiGiacomo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Heat Stress ◽  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Environmental Temperature ◽  
Small Ruminant ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Continuous Exposure ◽  
Hot Environments ◽  
The Impact

Climate change is a major global threat to the sustainability of livestock systems. Climatic factors such as ambient temperature, relative humidity, direct and indirect solar radiation and wind speed influence feed and water availability, fodder quality and disease occurrence, with production being most efficient in optimal environmental conditions. Among these climatic variables, ambient temperature fluctuations have the most impact on livestock production and animal welfare. Continuous exposure of the animals to heat stress compromises growth, milk and meat production and reproduction. The capacity of an animal to mitigate effects of increased environmental temperature, without progressing into stress response, differs within and between species. Comparatively, small ruminants are better adapted to hot environments than large ruminants and have better ability to survive, produce and reproduce in harsh climatic regions. Nevertheless, the physiological and behavioral changes in response to hot environments affect small ruminant production. It has been found that tropical breeds are more adaptive to hot climates than high-producing temperate breeds. The growing body of knowledge on the negative impact of heat stress on small ruminant production and welfare will assist in the development of suitable strategies to mitigate heat stress. Selection of thermotolerant breeds, through identification of genetic traits for adaption to extreme environmental conditions (high temperature, feed scarcity, water scarcity), is a viable strategy to combat climate change and minimize the impact on small ruminant production and welfare. This review highlights such adaption within and among different breeds of small ruminants challenged by heat stress.

scholarly journals Visioning Energy: Environmental Simulation, Visualization and the Instrumental Nature of Energy

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lonn Combs ◽  
◽  
Filip Tejchman ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Energy Crisis ◽  
Indoor Thermal Comfort ◽  
History Of ◽  
Progressive Growth ◽  
Environmental Simulation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Conceptual Relationship

A glance at the recent history of the evolving conceptual relationship between energy and building related disciplines, reveals the coextensive emergence of tools and crisis. Whether economic, environmental, technological or cultural, these conditions are shadowed by an analogous — and exponential — leap in the power of computing along with a reciprocal decline in its cost (Figure1). Moreover, it is not a coincidence that the progressive growth of computation based tools used in the evaluation of interior atmospheres is paralleled by similar historic benchmarks in twentieth-century environmentalism. First adopted in 1965, the ASHRAE Standard 55 (Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy), for example, established a metric for indoor thermal comfort, and arrived during an era which saw the first energy crisis and also began to consider the impact of buildings within ecologies.

The special clothing for firefighters – the normative requirements and original research results

2018 ◽  
Vol 560 (5) ◽  
pp. 12-15
Author(s):  
Magdalena Młynarczyk
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Protective Clothing ◽  
Thermal Sensation ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Optimal Conditions ◽  
Normative Requirements ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Impact

The firefighters work in extreme environmental conditions and have to solve a wide variety of problems during their work. These can be rescuing and firefighting actions or removing effects of accidents or natural disasters. In order to protect, not only others but also themselves, they must be focused as much as possible in order to avoid mistakes. Optimal conditions for such work could create so-called thermal comfort, characterized by a thermoneutral state of a body. Lack of thermal comfort can also cause an increased number of mistakes. That is why it is so important to select the right protection and to know the impact of the protective clothing (special clothing) on the thermal sensation of firefighters. This article presents the requirements for special clothing for firefighters, the results of thermal insulation tests of the above-mentioned clothing and the analysis of thermal sensations of its users (by PMV index).

scholarly journals Comparison of Two IR Cameras for Assessing Body Temperature

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Eva Barreira ◽  
Ricardo M. S. F. Almeida ◽  
Maria Lurdes Simões ◽  
Tiago S. F. Sousa
Keyword(s):  
Body Temperature ◽  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Infrared Thermography ◽  
Diagnostic Tool ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Image Resolution ◽  
Human Diseases ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Key Parameter

Infrared thermography is often used to assess body temperature. It is a useful diagnostic tool for detecting human diseases but, nowadays, is has found a new applicability as an instrument of control during the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some authors also used it to assess thermal comfort inside buildings. However, some understudied issues still remain regarding the influence on the measurement of the environmental conditions, the position of the subject and the equipment characteristics. This paper attempts to address some of these issues, highlighting that ambient temperature has an impact on image resolution. Additionally, the position of the subject is a key parameter when assessing body temperature, and different equipment deliver different results.

scholarly journals Impact of a Cold Environment on the Performance of Professional Cyclists: A Pilot Study

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1326
Author(s):  
Florence Riera ◽  
Samuel Bellenoue ◽  
Simon Fischer ◽  
Henri Méric
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Ambient Temperature ◽  
Core Temperature ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Elevation Gradient ◽  
Body Core Temperature ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Performance Factors ◽  
The Impact

The practice of physical activity in a variable climate during the same competition is becoming more and more common due to climate change and increasingly frequent climate disturbances. The main aim of this pilot study was to understand the impact of cold ambient temperature on performance factors during a professional cycling race. Six professional athletes (age = 27 ± 2.7 years; height = 180.86 ± 5.81 cm; weight = 74.09 ± 9.11 kg; % fat mass = 8.01 ± 2.47%; maximum aerobic power (MAP) = 473 ± 26.28 W, undertook ~20 h training each week at the time of the study) participated in the Tour de la Provence under cold environmental conditions (the ambient temperature was 15.6 ± 1.4 °C with a relative humidity of 41 ± 8.5% and the normalized ambient temperature (Tawc) was 7.77 ± 2.04 °C). Body core temperature (Tco) was measured with an ingestible capsule. Heart rate (HR), power, speed, cadence and the elevation gradient were read from the cyclists’ onboard performance monitors. The interaction (multivariate analysis of variance) of the Tawc and the elevation gradient has a significant impact (F(1.5) = 32.2; p < 0.001) on the variables (cadence, power, velocity, core temperature, heart rate) and on each individual. Thus, this pilot study shows that in cold environmental conditions, the athlete’s performance was limited by weather parameters (ambient temperature associated with air velocity) and race characteristics. The interaction of Tawc and elevation gradient significantly influences thermal (Tco), physiological (HR) and performance (power, speed and cadence) factors. Therefore, it is advisable to develop warm-up, hydration and clothing strategies for competitive cycling under cold ambient conditions and to acclimatize to the cold by training in the same conditions to those that may be encountered in competition.

scholarly journals Influence of Phase-Change Materials on Thermo-Physiological Comfort in Warm Environment

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damjana Celcar
Keyword(s):  
Phase Change ◽  
Skin Temperature ◽  
Phase Change Materials ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Subjective Feeling ◽  
Mean Skin Temperature ◽  
Climate Chamber ◽  
Warm Environment ◽  
Business Clothing ◽  
The Impact

The purpose of this research work is to investigate the influence of phase-change materials (PCMs) on thermo-physiological comfort of different male business clothing systems evaluated in warm environment. The impact of particular business clothing on the thermo-physiological comfort of the wearer during different physical activity and environmental conditions (between 25°C and 10°C with step of 5°C), artificially created in a climate chamber, was determined experimentally, as a change of three physiological parameters of a human being: mean skin temperature, heart rate, and the amount of evaporated and condensed sweat. A questionnaire and an assessment scale were also used before, during, and after each experiment in order to evaluate the wearer’s subjective feeling of comfort. The results of the performed research work show that male business clothing systems in combination with PCMs do not affect the thermal-physiological comfort of the wearer in warm environment significantly, except at an ambient temperature of 15°C, where clothing systems in combination with PCMs produce a small heating effect. Furthermore, it was concluded that clothing systems in combination with PCMs indicate a small temporary thermal effect that is reflected in a slight rising or lowering of mean skin temperature during activity changes.

scholarly journals Application of Gel to the Transducer of Cartilage Conduction Hearing Aids Improves Their Benefits

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadashi Nishimura ◽  
Hiroshi Hosoi ◽  
Osamu Saito ◽  
Ryota Shimokura ◽  
Tadao Okayasu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Aids ◽  
Subjective Evaluation ◽  
Signal Transmission ◽  
Hearing Level ◽  
Minimal Risk ◽  
Subjective Evaluations ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Effective Option ◽  
Hearing Devices ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Gel is a conduction medium used to improve signal transmission and is applied in ultrasonography to obtain high-quality images; however, it is rarely used in hearing devices. The application of gel to couple the transducer to the ear could potentially improve the benefits of hearing aids, particularly cartilage conduction (CC) hearing aids, which deliver signals by vibration. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of gel application on the efficacy of CC hearing aids in 23 patients (30 ears). The aided thresholds, maximum speech recognition scores (SRSs), and hearing level at which the maximum SRS was observed were compared before and after the application of gel to the transducer of CC hearing aids. Subjective impressions of hearing improvement, on applying the gel, were also evaluated. The aided thresholds above 1 kHz significantly improved on applying the gel to the transducer. The effectiveness of gel application was better for patients who reported improvement in hearing. The audiometric results were consistent with subjective evaluations. The application of gel has minimal risk, and its benefits can be verified easily with subjective evaluation. Gel application can be considered an effective option for improving the benefits of CC hearing aids.

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