Influence of Haptic Sensory Input through Different Kinds of Clothing on Gait Performance

This study investigated the effects of haptic sensory input by different types of clothing worn on gait performance. Twelve healthy men performed normal and tandem gait tests with blindfolds under three different clothing conditions: (1) wearing only half tights (HT); (2) wearing a skirt-like draped outfit such as a cotton cloth wrapped around the waist and extended to the lower leg (DC); and (3) wearing a trouser-like outfit such as tracksuit bottoms (TS). Although gait speed was significantly increased in DC as compared with HT, this was not observed in TS. Missteps during tandem gait were significantly reduced with DC. In addition, DC made walking easier for individuals as compared with TS. These findings suggest that wearing a skirt-like outfit such as kilts in Scotland or the hakama in Japan may provide haptic sensory cues to enhance individuals’ perceptions of their body orientation as compared with trouser-like clothing that is in continuous contact with the legs.

Performance of a Single Layer of Clothing or Gloves to Prevent Dermal Exposure to Pesticides

The suitability, availability, and use of protective clothing are critical factors determining the actual dermal exposure (ADE) of operators and workers to pesticides. A realistic assessment of occupational exposure to pesticides requires information about the performance of protective clothing during everyday use. In this study, the performance of clothing or gloves has been investigated based on available dermal exposure data in order to provide recommendations for default protection factors that can be used in regulatory exposure assessments. Suitable dermal exposure data from available exposure databases were collated and analysed. The data that met the selection criteria for the analysis of the performance of protective clothing comprised studies in which protective clothing like cotton coveralls, cotton clothing, polyester–cotton coveralls, Sontara coveralls, Tyvek coveralls, butyl/neoprene gloves, latex/PE/vinyl/PVC gloves, or nitrile gloves were worn. Based on available potential and ADE levels, the migration of pesticides through this protective clothing was estimated. Evaluation of exposure data showed that on average only 2.3–2.6% of the pesticides present on the outside of the clothing or gloves migrated through the garments, although there was a large variation with migration up to 99%. Forearms, legs, and chest areas of the clothing tended to have the greatest migration of pesticides. Caution is needed in the selection of the appropriate protection offered protective clothing for specific situations. This study gives valuable information on the performance of protective clothing, for use in exposure assessment and for default setting in exposure modelling, taking into account the type of clothing or gloves worn. As new data become available, it may be possible to further refine the protection factors offered by different types of clothing or gloves, particularly where a common protocol has been used.

Influence of Air Velocity on the Total Thermal Insulation of Different Types of Clothing

According to the standards describing research on the total and resultant thermal insulation, the requirements for the microclimate in which tests are performed must be recorded. However, these values are given with uncertainty. According to the EN ISO 15831 and EN 342 standards, air velocity should be set to (0.4 ± 0.1) m/s. For this reason, it is necessary to verify to what extent values exceeding the said range affect the results of the thermal insulation. Research was carried out for 3 sets of clothing differing in the number of layers of the material. The influence of air velocity on clothing thermal insulation was examined with three values of Va: 0.4 m/s, 0.8 m/s and 1.2 m/s. Correction factors (CFs) were calculated and compared with the CF values set out in the EN ISO 9920 standard.

CLOTHING AS A PART OF THE MARI WEDDING GIFT EXCHANGE (THE LATE 19TH AND EARLY 20th CENTURIES)

The article considers using clothing items during the traditional Mari wedding gift exchange ceremony. In addition to its emblematic function represented by a dress as a whole, the Mari wedding clothing has always been a part of the wedding gift exchange ritual. Though, it rarely was an object of research in this respect. The rite of exchange of the clothing items takes an important place in the Mari wedding procedure, because it pinpoints social relations of different levels, of both individual and group levels. Items of exchange serve as communication mediators and form a pattern of the rite. The research is based on the archival exhibits and written sources of the Russian museum of ethnography. Apart from that, the author’s field materials for the period from 2009 to 2018 obtained through own expeditionary work in various regions of the Mari El were used. Based on the sources, the article analyses information on the extent of the clothing’s significance and usage as an object of the gift exchange ceremony, considers different types of clothing items used for the exchange as well as their possible equivalents, discloses relevant features of these items. The paper specifies levels of the wedding ceremony with an exchange of the clothing items fixed. In particular, a primary secret agreement, marriage proposal, gifting guests with a bride are crucial components of the rite with a public agreement present. The study of the Mari wedding gift exchange seems to be promising, as, despite a transformed wedding ceremony, the procedure itself remains unchanged, being one of the most sustainable mechanisms of the public regulation.

Optimasi Pengering Pakaian Sistem Pompa Kalor dengan Penambahan Alat Penukar Kalor

Tingginya kesibukan masyarakat saat ini memacu banyaknya usaha laundry yang menawarkan jasa pencucian dan pengeringan pakaian dengan waktu yang singkat. Dalam hal ini sangat dibutuhkan sistem pengeringan pakaian yang efisien dari segi waktu dan energi serta tidak bergantung kepada cuaca. Penelitian ini bertujuan melakukan optimasi pengering pakaian sistem pompa kalor dengan menambahkan sebuah alat penukar kalor tipe plat datar untuk mendapatkan karakteristik pengeringan pakaian dan kinerja mesin pengering. Alat penukar kalor plat datar ditempatkan di antara ruang pengering dan evaporator. Pengeringan dilakukan terhadap 4 jenis bahan pakaian yang berbeda pada setiap variasi kecepatan udara. Diperoleh temperatur udara pada ruang pengering 48,24⁰C dengan kelembaban 24,6%. Laju pengeringan tertinggi diperoleh pada pengeringan 4 bahan pakaian secara bersamaan yaitu 0,3529 kg/jam yang menghasilkan nilai SMER sebesar 1,4537 kg/kWh dan SEC sebesar 0,6879 kWh/kg. Total prestasi pengering diperoleh 6,40 dengan efektivitas penukar kalor 62,24%. Semakin tinggi jumlah kadar air dengan waktu pengeringan yang singkat akan meningkatkan laju pengeringan. Laju pengeringan yang tinggi dengan konsumsi energi yang rendah akan menghasilkan nilai SMER yang tinggi dan menghasilkan nilai SEC yang rendah. The high level of public activity is currently spurring the many laundry businesses that offer laundry and drying services in a short time. In this case, it needs efficient drying system in time and energy and not depending on weather. This study aims to optimize the heat pump system in drying clothes by adding a flat plate type heat exchanger to obtain the drying characteristic of clothes and the performance of the drying machine. Flat plate heat exchanger was placed between the drying chamber and the evaporator. The drying process was carried out in 4 different types of clothing material in each variation of air velocity. Air temperature was obtained in drying chamber of 48.24 ⁰C with a humidity of 24.6%. The highest drying rate was obtained from drying 4 clothing materials simultaneously, namely 0.3529 kg/hour which resulted in an SMER value of 1.4537 kg/kWh and SEC of 0.6879 kWh/kg. The total dryer performance was obtained at 6.40 with the effectiveness of heat exchanger 62.24%. The higher the amount of water in short drying time would increase the drying rate. A high drying rate with low energy consumption would result in a high SMER value and produce a low SEC value.

Sunlight Exposure, Hat Use, and Squamous Cell Skin Cancer on the Head and Neck

Background: Sunlight is the environmental exposure most often associated with squamous cell cancer (SCC) of the skin. It can be difficult to quantify the sunlight exposure of the skin because of the different types of clothing that may be worn. The problem is simplified for studies of SCC on the skin of the head and neck, where a hat is the only type of clothing that needs to be considered. Objective: The purpose of the study was to determine the risk for SCC of sunlight exposure on the skin of the head and neck, and the protective effect, if any, associated with wearing a hat. Methods: A case-control study of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin was conducted amongst men in the province of Alberta, Canada. Analysis was restricted to only those cases where cancer occurred on the head or neck, and their age and sex matched controls. Results: Ethnicity, non-sunexposed skin colour, and hair colour each significantly affected the SCC risk. An increased SCC risk was also associated with greater cumulative sunlight exposure and with sunburns experienced during the ages 5 to 15 years. The risk associated with sunlight exposure was significantly elevated in men who reported that they had always or usually worn a hat. Conclusion: As observed in previous studies, SCC on the skin of the head and neck is associated with host pigmentation, sunburns occurring in childhood, and sunlight exposure during adulthood. The risk observed for wearing a hat may be due to bias or confounding; however, hats remain an unproven means of protection against SCC on the skin of the head and neck.