Although smoothness, softness, and stiffness determine the physical and mechanical behavior of a fabric and the subjective assessment of quality when it is handled, the perceived comfort of clothing is more important ...Although smoothness, softness, and stiffness determine the physical and mechanical behavior of a fabric and the subjective assessment of quality when it is handled, the perceived comfort of clothing is more important to consumers. The sensations perceived from the contact of clothing with the skin can greatly influence our over-all state of comfort and one aspect of this is the unpleasant skin sensation of prickle. Surface prickle of fabrics can be a factor limiting the use of the coarser types of ramie in apparel. And the mechanical stimulus of fabric-evoked prickle underlies our discomfort to fabrics independent in the majority of cases of any chemical or the atopic status of the individual. It is known that the prickle of fabric can be reduced by fabric-finishing treatments, but the assessment of fabric prickle is often done subjectively. This is time consuming, and it is difficult to obtain reliable and reproducible results, since variability between subjects in their sensitivity to prickle, such as skin mechanical properties, effective density of nociceptors and the mood state of the individual. In order to find an objective method of measuring the physical properties of the stiff fiber ends protruding from the fabrics to predict prickle, axial compression bending tests were examined by using single ramie fiber. By comparing analysis, it is found that the critical compressing load (Pcr), the bending modulus (E) are the important parameters. The relationship of the critical load (Pcr) with the length of fiber (L) and the fineness of fiber (Nt) has been investigated.展开更多
Using the forearm test, the prickle of 26 commercially available light-weight worsted woven wool fabrics and 7 other fiber fabrics were studied under (24±1)℃ temperature and (65±5)% RH conditions. The surfa...Using the forearm test, the prickle of 26 commercially available light-weight worsted woven wool fabrics and 7 other fiber fabrics were studied under (24±1)℃ temperature and (65±5)% RH conditions. The surface fiber diameter of part of the wool fabrics was measured using a microscope. It was found that most of the light-weight worsted woven wool fabrics gave a prickle sensation under the above conditions. The prickle sensation was significantly correlated with the mean fiber diameter of the surface hairiness. It was also found that the prickle of the light-weight worsted woven wool fabrics was significantly correlated with the number of surface fibers which were coarser than 26 μm diameter.展开更多
Carefully controlled treatments with a protease and acellulase were used to improve the softness and reducethe subjectively perceived prickle of a coarse wool andviscose blend fabric. The activity towards wool of a no...Carefully controlled treatments with a protease and acellulase were used to improve the softness and reducethe subjectively perceived prickle of a coarse wool andviscose blend fabric. The activity towards wool of a non-specific endoprotease (Novolan L) was shown to bemuch greater in buffer containing a reducing agent (so-dium sulphite). The balance between protease and sodi-um sulphite concentrations was studied in order to reducethe amount of enzyme required.展开更多
The effect of rating scales and test parts of body on the fabric-evoked prickle evaluation results are studied by carrying out subjective evaluation tests under controlled environment conditions （24 4±1）℃, （6...The effect of rating scales and test parts of body on the fabric-evoked prickle evaluation results are studied by carrying out subjective evaluation tests under controlled environment conditions （24 4±1）℃, （65 =l= 5） %RH. Ten college female students aged about 20 were chosen as the subjects, who have participated a preliminary training on subjective prickle evaluation. The prickle of a range of 9 light-weight worsted woven wool and wool blend fabrics and a cotton fabric were tested by using a 1 - 5 rating scale and using a 0 - 10 rating scale respectively at different test parts of body respectively such as forearm, upper arm ball and neck back. The test results were statistically analyzed. It is found that there is a significant correlation coefficient between the evaluation results of using the 1 - 5 rating scale and of using the 0- 10 rating scale. It is also found that there are highly significant correlation coefficients between the evaluation results of using the forearm prickle test and the neck back prickle test, between the evaluation results of using the neck back prickle test and the upper arm ball prickle test, and between the evaluation results of using the forearm prickle test and the upper arm ball prickle test. It is suggested that the forearm prickle test is preferable in evaluating fabric-evoked prickle for its convenience and sensitivity.展开更多
Mexico is the largest cactus exporter of the world and 40% of the production cost is provided from the harvest operation. Many workers are required to operate daily and suffer wrist pain after two weeks of collecting ...Mexico is the largest cactus exporter of the world and 40% of the production cost is provided from the harvest operation. Many workers are required to operate daily and suffer wrist pain after two weeks of collecting pears with mechanical pruners. A motor driven tool supplied from a photovoltaic system was employed for harvesting;different blades were tested at different cutting speeds. It was found that toothed blades sliced the pears with efficiencies over 90%. Abrasive blades were finally selected as the current required per cut was minimum, permitting a longer battery lifetime before requiring recharging.展开更多
The comfort of the light-weight woven fabrics was investigated by conducting the wear trials under the controlled climatic conditions. The wear trial under the neutral environmental conditions showed that the lightwei...The comfort of the light-weight woven fabrics was investigated by conducting the wear trials under the controlled climatic conditions. The wear trial under the neutral environmental conditions showed that the lightweight wool and wool blend fabrics are generally less comfortable than the silk fabric, cotton poplin and polyester/cotton poplin fabrics tested in this study. The main shortcoming in terms of comfort for these lightweight wool fabrics is the prickle. Besides, the fabric softness was found to be a very important factor influencing the comfort of the clothing worn next to the skin.展开更多
Aims Organisms on islands are thought to escape biotic pressure and lose defensive capabilities.However,broadscale,evidence-based tests of this idea are rare.In this study,we asked:(i)whether the proportion of spinesc...Aims Organisms on islands are thought to escape biotic pressure and lose defensive capabilities.However,broadscale,evidence-based tests of this idea are rare.In this study,we asked:(i)whether the proportion of spinescent plant species differed between islands and mainlands and(ii)whether the proportion of spinescent species increased with increasing island area and with decreasing island distance to mainland.Methods We compiled species lists for 18 island–mainland pairs around Australia.We classified 1129 plant species as spinescent or nonspinescent using published species descriptions.Important Findings There was no significant difference between the proportion of spinescent species found on islands and on mainlands.Proportions of spinescent species were not significantly related to island area or distance to mainland.Our results suggest that spinescence is just as important to island plants as it is to mainland plants,even for plants inhabiting small or distal islands.This is unexpected,given prevailing thought and previous work on island–mainland comparisons.Our study demonstrates the importance of testing well-accepted yet untested ideas.展开更多
文摘Although smoothness, softness, and stiffness determine the physical and mechanical behavior of a fabric and the subjective assessment of quality when it is handled, the perceived comfort of clothing is more important to consumers. The sensations perceived from the contact of clothing with the skin can greatly influence our over-all state of comfort and one aspect of this is the unpleasant skin sensation of prickle. Surface prickle of fabrics can be a factor limiting the use of the coarser types of ramie in apparel. And the mechanical stimulus of fabric-evoked prickle underlies our discomfort to fabrics independent in the majority of cases of any chemical or the atopic status of the individual. It is known that the prickle of fabric can be reduced by fabric-finishing treatments, but the assessment of fabric prickle is often done subjectively. This is time consuming, and it is difficult to obtain reliable and reproducible results, since variability between subjects in their sensitivity to prickle, such as skin mechanical properties, effective density of nociceptors and the mood state of the individual. In order to find an objective method of measuring the physical properties of the stiff fiber ends protruding from the fabrics to predict prickle, axial compression bending tests were examined by using single ramie fiber. By comparing analysis, it is found that the critical compressing load (Pcr), the bending modulus (E) are the important parameters. The relationship of the critical load (Pcr) with the length of fiber (L) and the fineness of fiber (Nt) has been investigated.
文摘Using the forearm test, the prickle of 26 commercially available light-weight worsted woven wool fabrics and 7 other fiber fabrics were studied under (24±1)℃ temperature and (65±5)% RH conditions. The surface fiber diameter of part of the wool fabrics was measured using a microscope. It was found that most of the light-weight worsted woven wool fabrics gave a prickle sensation under the above conditions. The prickle sensation was significantly correlated with the mean fiber diameter of the surface hairiness. It was also found that the prickle of the light-weight worsted woven wool fabrics was significantly correlated with the number of surface fibers which were coarser than 26 μm diameter.
文摘Carefully controlled treatments with a protease and acellulase were used to improve the softness and reducethe subjectively perceived prickle of a coarse wool andviscose blend fabric. The activity towards wool of a non-specific endoprotease (Novolan L) was shown to bemuch greater in buffer containing a reducing agent (so-dium sulphite). The balance between protease and sodi-um sulphite concentrations was studied in order to reducethe amount of enzyme required.
文摘The effect of rating scales and test parts of body on the fabric-evoked prickle evaluation results are studied by carrying out subjective evaluation tests under controlled environment conditions （24 4±1）℃, （65 =l= 5） %RH. Ten college female students aged about 20 were chosen as the subjects, who have participated a preliminary training on subjective prickle evaluation. The prickle of a range of 9 light-weight worsted woven wool and wool blend fabrics and a cotton fabric were tested by using a 1 - 5 rating scale and using a 0 - 10 rating scale respectively at different test parts of body respectively such as forearm, upper arm ball and neck back. The test results were statistically analyzed. It is found that there is a significant correlation coefficient between the evaluation results of using the 1 - 5 rating scale and of using the 0- 10 rating scale. It is also found that there are highly significant correlation coefficients between the evaluation results of using the forearm prickle test and the neck back prickle test, between the evaluation results of using the neck back prickle test and the upper arm ball prickle test, and between the evaluation results of using the forearm prickle test and the upper arm ball prickle test. It is suggested that the forearm prickle test is preferable in evaluating fabric-evoked prickle for its convenience and sensitivity.
文摘Mexico is the largest cactus exporter of the world and 40% of the production cost is provided from the harvest operation. Many workers are required to operate daily and suffer wrist pain after two weeks of collecting pears with mechanical pruners. A motor driven tool supplied from a photovoltaic system was employed for harvesting;different blades were tested at different cutting speeds. It was found that toothed blades sliced the pears with efficiencies over 90%. Abrasive blades were finally selected as the current required per cut was minimum, permitting a longer battery lifetime before requiring recharging.
文摘The comfort of the light-weight woven fabrics was investigated by conducting the wear trials under the controlled climatic conditions. The wear trial under the neutral environmental conditions showed that the lightweight wool and wool blend fabrics are generally less comfortable than the silk fabric, cotton poplin and polyester/cotton poplin fabrics tested in this study. The main shortcoming in terms of comfort for these lightweight wool fabrics is the prickle. Besides, the fabric softness was found to be a very important factor influencing the comfort of the clothing worn next to the skin.
基金Australian Research Council Discovery Project(DP140102861 to A.T.M.).
文摘Aims Organisms on islands are thought to escape biotic pressure and lose defensive capabilities.However,broadscale,evidence-based tests of this idea are rare.In this study,we asked:(i)whether the proportion of spinescent plant species differed between islands and mainlands and(ii)whether the proportion of spinescent species increased with increasing island area and with decreasing island distance to mainland.Methods We compiled species lists for 18 island–mainland pairs around Australia.We classified 1129 plant species as spinescent or nonspinescent using published species descriptions.Important Findings There was no significant difference between the proportion of spinescent species found on islands and on mainlands.Proportions of spinescent species were not significantly related to island area or distance to mainland.Our results suggest that spinescence is just as important to island plants as it is to mainland plants,even for plants inhabiting small or distal islands.This is unexpected,given prevailing thought and previous work on island–mainland comparisons.Our study demonstrates the importance of testing well-accepted yet untested ideas.
