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The lack of sensorial input in the e-commerce domain impairs consumers' online apparel purchases. Therefore, it is important to identify possible compensatory cues to present the 'feel' of a garment in an enhanced way. This study investigates how visual interpretation of the feel of fabrics is related to the actual feel. Haptic textile attributes of seven fabric swatches were quantified in an online questionnaire (part I), simulating an online shopping experience. Separately, a physical assessment of samples mailed to participants (part II), simulating an in-person shopping experience, was performed. Part I and II comprised 20 participants each. No robust significant difference was found between sex. The comparison of the visual only and the visual-haptic assessment showed higher variability and lower scores of the haptic attributes in the visual only session. Especially textile surface structure related haptic attributes could not be conveyed visually and needed tactile sensory input to assess. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A common effort for both military and civil healthcare is to achieve knowledge-based health care in cold weather injuries and fatal accidents in harsh arctic environment. The Cold Weather Operations Conference in November 2021, having more than 300 participants from 20 countries, was addressing the prevention and treatment of injuries and trauma care in cold weather conditions and the challenges for military prehospital casualty care. The intention of the programme was to stimulate further research and systematic knowledge-based clinical work. The abstracts from the conference present cold weather research and clinical experience relevant for readers of the International Journal of Circumpolar Health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a series of three companion papers published in this Journal, we identify and validate the available thermal stress indicators (TSIs). In this first paper of the series, we conducted a systematic review (registration: INPLASY202090088) to identify all TSIs and provide reliable information regarding their use (funded by EU Horizon 2020; HEAT-SHIELD). Eight databases (PubMed, Agricultural and Environmental Science Collection, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Russian Science Citation Index, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar) were searched from database inception to 15 April 2020. No restrictions on language or study design were applied. Of the 879 publications identified, 232 records were considered for further analysis. This search identified 340 instruments and indicators developed between 200 BC and 2019 AD. Of these, 153 are nomograms, instruments, and/or require detailed non-meteorological information, while 187 can be mathematically calculated utilizing only meteorological data. Of these meteorology-based TSIs, 127 were developed for people who are physically active, and 61 of those are eligible for use in occupational settings. Information regarding the equation, operating range, interpretation categories, required input data, as well as a free software to calculate all 187 meteorology-based TSIs is provided. The information presented in this systematic review should be adopted by those interested in performing on-site monitoring and/or big data analytics for climate services to ensure appropriate use of the meteorology-based TSIs. Studies two and three in this series of companion papers present guidance on the application and validation of these TSIs, to guide end users of these indicators for more effective use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a series of three companion papers published in this Journal, we identify and validate the available thermal stress indicators (TSIs). In this second paper of the series, we identified the criteria to consider when adopting a TSI to protect individuals who work in the heat, and we weighed their relative importance using a Delphi exercise with 20 experts. Two Delphi iterations were adequate to reach consensus within the expert panel (Cronbach's α = 0.86) for a set of 17 criteria with varying weights that should be considered when adopting a TSI to protect individuals who work in the heat. These criteria considered physiological parameters such as core/skin/mean body temperature, heart rate, and hydration status, as well as practicality, cost effectiveness, and health guidance issues. The 17 criteria were distributed across three occupational health-and-safety pillars: (i) contribution to improving occupational health (55% of total importance), (ii) mitigation of worker physiological strain (35.5% of total importance), and (iii) cost-effectiveness (9.5% of total importance). Three criteria [(i) relationship of a TSI with core temperature, (ii) having categories indicating the level of heat stress experienced by workers, and (iii) using its heat stress categories to provide recommendations for occupational safety and health] were considered significantly more important when selecting a TSI for protecting individuals who work in the heat, accumulating 37.2 percentage points. These 17 criteria allow the validation and comparison of TSIs that presently exist as well as those that may be developed in the coming years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a series of three companion papers published in this Journal, we identify and validate the available thermal stress indicators (TSIs). In this third paper, we conducted field experiments across nine countries to evaluate the efficacy of 61 meteorology-based TSIs for assessing the physiological strain experienced by individuals working in the heat. We monitored 372 experi-enced and acclimatized workers during 893 full work shifts. We continuously assessed core body temperature, mean skin temperature, and heart rate data together with pre/post urine specific gravity and color. The TSIs were evaluated against 17 published criteria covering physiological parameters, practicality, cost effectiveness, and health guidance issues. Simple meteorological parameters explained only a fraction of the variance in physiological heat strain (R2 = 0.016 to 0.427; p < 0.001), reflecting the importance of adopting more sophisticated TSIs. Nearly all TSIs correlated with mean skin temperature (98%), mean body temperature (97%), and heart rate (92%), while 66% of TSIs correlated with the magnitude of dehydration and 59% correlated with core body temperature (r = 0.031 to 0.602; p < 0.05). When evaluated against the 17 published criteria, the TSIs scored from 4.7 to 55.4% (max score = 100%). The indoor (55.4%) and outdoor (55.1%) Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature and the Universal Thermal Climate Index (51.7%) scored higher compared to other TSIs (4.7 to 42.0%). Therefore, these three TSIs have the highest potential to assess the physiological strain experienced by individuals working in the heat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present comprehensive review (i) summarizes the current knowledge on the impacts of occupational heat stress on outdoor workers, (ii) provides a historical background on this issue, (iii) presents a meta-analysis of published data, (iv) explores inter-individual and intra-individual factors, (v) discusses the available heat mitigation strategies, (vi) estimates physical work capacity, labour productivity, and metabolic rate for the year 2030, and (vii) provides an overview of existing policy and legal frameworks on occupational heat exposure. Meta-analytic findings from 38 field studies that involved monitoring 2,409 outdoor workers across 41 jobs in 21 countries suggest that occupational heat stress increases the core (r = 0.44) and skin (r = 0.44) temperatures, as well as the heart rate (r = 0.38) and urine specific gravity (r = 0.13) of outdoor workers (all p < 0.05). Moreover, it diminishes the capacity of outdoor workers for manual labour (r = −0.82; p < 0.001) and is responsible for more than two thirds of the reduction in their metabolic rate. Importantly, our analysis shows that physical work capacity is projected to be highly affected by the ongoing anthropogenic global warming. Nevertheless, the metabolic rate and, therefore, labour productivity are projected to remain at levels higher than the workers' physical work capacity, indicating that people will continue to work more intensely than they should to meet their financial obligations for food and shelter. In this respect, complementary measures targeting self-pacing, hydration, work-rest regimes, ventilated garments, and mechanization can be adopted to protect outdoor workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated experts' understanding of sports clothing quality, the quality attributes they consider, and their views on the evaluation process. Twenty-two experts working in different sports clothing development and evaluation functions participated in semi-structured expert interviews. A thematic analysis highlighted three different views on quality, real-world problems in the evaluation process, and facilitated a sports clothing quality framework. Experts saw sports clothing quality as the fulfilment of use-case requirements, an immediate impression, or an individual perception. With the established sports clothing quality framework, it was possible to break down the overall quality impression in attributes and assign evaluation methods to it. Several challenges and suggestions for the evaluation process were detected. This ranged from the lack of measurability of attributes to solutions such as digitalisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of human internal/core temperature (Tcore) is relevant in many scientific disciplines, but also for public health authorities when attempting to identify individuals with fever. Direct assessment of Tcore is often invasive, impractical on a large scale, and typically requires close contact between the observer and the target subject. Non-contact infrared thermometry (NCIT) represents a practical solution in which Tcore can potentially be assessed from a safe distance and in mass screening scenarios, by measuring skin temperature at specific anatomical locations. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated that these devices are not being used correctly, despite expert guided specifications available in International Standard Organization (ISO) documents. In this review, we provide an overview of the most pertinent factors that should be considered by users of NCIT. This includes the most pertinent methodological and physiological factors, as well as an overview on the ability of NCIT to track human Tcore. For practical use, we provide a checklist based on relevant ISO standards which are simple to follow and should be consulted prior to using NCIT for assessment of human Tcore. Our intention is for users of NCIT to adopt this checklist, which may improve the performance of NCIT for its ability to track Tcore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular disease is more prevalent in individuals of Black-African (BA) and South-Asian (SA) descent than White-European (WE) counterparts, with vascular dysfunction identified as contributing to this disparity. Chronic heat therapy can elicit positive vascular adaptations, potentially underpinned by the repeated cardiovascular strain experienced during acute heat exposures. This study examined the cutaneous peripheral microvascular responses following acute hot (HWI) and thermoneutral (CON) water immersion between males of WE, BA, and SA descent. Thirty-one young, healthy WE (n = 10), BA (n = 10), SA (n = 11) males completed 60 minutes of HWI (39°C) and CON (36°C) with thermoregulatory, cardiovascular, and perceptual responses measured throughout. Following 60 minutes of thermoneutral rest, forearm and Great toe cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) were recorded during cutaneous post-occlusive reactive hyperemia (PORH) and local heating (LH). Baseline CVC was similar between groups (p ≥ 0.08). During PORH, BA had lower peak forearm and Great toe CVC than WE and SA, and a reduced CVC area under the curve compared to WE (p ≤ 0.01). Furthermore, BA Great toe CVC was blunted compared to WE and SA during both 42°C (p ≤ 0.033) and 44°C (p ≤ 0.02) LH, respectively. Great toe CVC was acutely increased following HWI in responses to 44°C LH compared to CON (p ≤ 0.039), with no race × condition interaction effects. In conclusion, despite blunted microvascular responses in BA, acute HWI did not elicit distinct effects between males of WE, BA, and SA descent, although microvascular responses to LH were greater following HWI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates foot sweat distribution with and without shoes and the relationship between foot sweat distribution and perceived wetness to enhance guidance for footwear design. Fourteen females performed low-intensity running with nude feet and low- and high-intensity running with shoes (55%VO2max and 75%VO2max, respectively) on separate occasions. Right foot sweat rates were measured at 14 regions using absorbent material applied during the last 5 min of each work intensity. Perceptual responses were recorded for the body, foot and four foot regions. Foot sweat production was 22% greater nude (p <.001) and with shoes did not increase with exercise intensity (p =.14). Highest sweat rates were observed at the medial ankle and dorsal regions; lowest sweat rates at the toes. Perceptions of wetness and foot discomfort did not correspond with regions of high sweat production or low skin temperature but rather seemed dominated by tactile interactions caused by foot movement within the shoe. Practitioner summary: This study provides a detailed view of foot sweat distribution for female runners with and without shoes, providing important guidance for sock and footwear design. Importantly, perceptions of wetness and foot discomfort did not correspond with areas of high sweat production. Instead tactile interactions between the foot, sock/shoe play an important role. Abbreviations: VO2max: maximal oxygen consumption; HR: heart rate; RH: relative humidity; GSL: gross sweat loss; Nude-I1: without socks and shoes, low intensity running; Shod-I1: with socks and shoes, low intensity running; Shod-I2: with socks and shoes, high intensity running [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Produce a detailed upper-body sweat map and evaluate changes in gross and regional sweating rates (RSR) and distribution following heat acclimation (HA). Methods: Six males (25 ± 4 yrs) completed six consecutive HA days (45°C, 20% rh) requiring 90 minutes intermittent exercise to maintain a 1.4°C rectal temperature (Tre) rise. Pre- and post-HA upper-body RSR were measured at 55% (Intensity-1; I1) and 75% VO2 max (Intensity-2; I2) using a modified absorbent technique. Results: From day one to six of HA, work rate increased (n.s.), heart rate, Tre, and skin temperature were similar, and gross sweat loss (GSL) increased (P < 0.001). During pre and post-HA experiments, relative workloads were similar (Pre-I1 54 ± 3, Post-I1 57 ± 5%VO2max; Pre-I2 73 ± 4, Post-I2 76 ± 7%VO2max). Post-HA GSL was significantly higher (Pre 449 ± 90 g.m−2 h−1, Post 546 g.m−2 h−1; P < 0.01). Highest RSR were observed on the central back both pre and post-HA at I1 (pre 854 ± 269 post 1178 ± 402g.m−2 h−1) and I2 (pre 1221 ± 351 post 1772 ± 396 g.m−2 h−1). Absolute RSR increased significantly in 12 (I1) to 14 (I2) of the 17 regions. Ratio data indicated significant post-HA relative RSR redistribution, with decreased relative contributions to whole-body sweating on the back, chest staying the same and arms increasing. Conclusions: Hot-dry HA significantly increased GSL in aerobically trained males at I2. Absolute RSR significantly increased in I1 and I2, with a preferential relative redistribution towards the periphery of the upper-body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat strain in chemical protective clothing is an important factor in industrial and military practice. Various improvements to the clothing to alleviate strain while maintaining protection have been attempted. More recently, selectively permeable membranes have been introduced to improve protection, but questions are raised regarding their effect on heat strain. In this paper the use of selectively permeable membranes with low vapour resistance was compared to textile-based outer layers with similar ensemble vapour resistance. For textile-based outer layers, the effect of increasing air permeability was investigated. When comparing ensembles with a textile vs. a membrane outer layer that have similar heat and vapour resistances measured for the sum of fabric samples, a higher heat strain is observed in the membrane ensemble, as in actual wear, and the air permeability of the textile version improves ventilation and allows better cooling by sweat evaporation. For garments with identical thickness and static dry heat resistance, but differing levels of air permeability, a strong correlation of microclimate ventilation due to wind and movement with air permeability was observed. This was reflected in lower values of core and skin temperatures and heart rate for garments with higher air permeability. For heart rate and core temperature the two lowest and the two highest air permeabilities formed two distinct groups, but they did not differ within these groups. Based on protection requirements, it is concluded that air permeability increases can reduce heat strain levels allowing optimisation of chemical protective clothing. Statement of Relevance: In this study on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) protective clothing, heat strain is shown to be significantly higher with selectively permeable membranes compared to air permeable ensembles. Optimisation of CBRN personal protective equipment needs to balance sufficient protection with reduced heat strain. Using selectively permeable membranes may optimise protection but requires thorough consideration of the wearer's heat strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clothing microclimate ventilation is an important parameter in climatic stress and in contaminated environments. The two main methods for its determination (Crockford et al. (CR) 1972 and Lotens and Havenith (LH) 1988) were, after further development, compared in terms of reproducibility, validity and usability. Both methods were shown to have a good sensitivity and reproducibility (with average coefficients of variation 1.5-2.3% for the method alone and up to 7% for method and clothing/movement effects combined). They produced values very close to calibration values in forced ventilation tests (r = 0.988). Weak points for the CR method were the limits in the time constant of the measurement apparatus, causing an upper limit to the ventilation that can be reliably measured (around 800 l/min) and the method of measuring clothing microclimate volume. The original 'vacuum oversuit' (CR) method was cumbersome and prone to large errors. Alternative methods of measuring clothing microclimate volume (whole body scanner or manual circumference measurements) were shown to produce good results. For the LH method, the distribution of the tracer gas over the whole skin surface became a problem factor at very high ventilations (above 1000 l/min). As all methods use tracer gases (O2, Ar, CO2, SF6) with diffusivities smaller than that of water vapour, this potentially creates a problem in the calculation of vapour resistance from the ventilation values in the region where the emphasis of vapour transfer moves from diffusion to convection. In most real-life situations, where body and air movement are present, a correction is not however required because the error remains below 10%. Statement of Relevance: Clothing ventilation indicates heat loss potential as well as risk of pollutants entering the clothing. Two main methods for its determination are compared and validated, identifying a number of issues. An in-depth analysis is given of the advantages and disadvantages of the available methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moisture accumulation in sleeping bags during extended periods of use is detrimental to thermal comfort of the sleeper, and in extreme cases may lead to sleep loss and hypothermia. As sub-zero temperatures were expected to affect vapour resistance of microporous membranes, the effect of using semipermeable and impermeable rain covers for sleeping bags on the accumulation of moisture in the bags during 6 days of use at - 7°C and 5 days at - 20°C were investigated. In addition, the routine of shaking off hoarfrost from the inside of the cover after the sleep period as a preventive measure for moisture accumulation was studied. Moisture accumulation (ranging from 92 to 800 grams) was found to be related to the vapour resistance of the materials used. The best semipermeable material gave the same moisture build-up as no cover at - 7°C, though build-up increased substantially at - 20°C. Shaking off the hoarfrost from the inside of the cover after each use was beneficial in preventing a high moisture build-up. It was concluded that semi-permeable cover materials reduce moisture accumulation in sleeping bags at moderate sub-zero temperatures, but in more extreme cold (- 20°C) the benefits are reduced in comparison to routinely shaking frost from impermeable covers. Compared to fixed impermeable covers, the benefits of all semi-permeable covers are large. For long-term use without drying facilities, the differences observed do favour the semi-permeable covers above impermeable ones, even when regularly removing the hoar frost from the inside in the latter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of environmental and individual factors on thermal sensation in air-conditioned office environments were analysed for two large, fully compatible thermal comfort field studies in contrasting Australian climates. In the hot - humid location of Townsville, 836 office workers were surveyed; 935 workers participated in hot - arid Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Overall perceived work area temperature and measured indoor operative temperature correlated moderately with thermal sensation for Townsville (T) subjects but only perceived temperature correlated with Kalgoorlie-Boulder (KB) sensation. Multiple regression analyses confirmed that indoor climatic variables (including Predicted Mean Vote) contributed to actual thermal sensation vote (24% T; 15% KB), with operative temperature having more of an effect in T than in KB. Subsequent analyses of individual characteristics showed no linear contributions to thermal sensation. The remaining variances were significantly related to perceived work area temperature (7% additional explained variance in T; 12% in KB). Mann - Whitney analyses (after correction for climatic variables) showed that T subjects with higher job satisfaction had thermal sensations closer to 'neutral'. Males, healthier subjects, non-smokers, respondents with earlier survey times and underweight occupants had lower median thermal sensations in KB. Townsville occupants appeared more adapted to their outdoor climatic conditions than Kalgoorlie-Boulder respondents, perhaps due to limited home air-conditioning. Further research into non-thermal impacts on gender-related thermal acceptability is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the trace gas diffusion method, the vapour resistance of three clothing ensembles (two permeable and one impermeable) was determined for four subjects, sitting, standing or walking at 0-3 and 09 m/s, combined with three wind speeds of <0-15, 0-7 and 41 m/s. Sitting increased vapour resistance by 12-36%, whereas walking and wind decreased the resistance by 72% and 89% when compared to standing with less than 0-15 m/s wind. Movement and wind interacted so that the higher the walking speed, the less additional effect of wind was observed. Values of the permeability index Im were calculated. Wind and movement increased Im up to a factor three for the permeable and up to a factor six for the impermeable garments. However, using a different definition of Im(I'm.), based on the convective part of the heat transfer coefficient only, resulted in higher I'm values (compared to im) which remained constant with wind and movement. It was shown that with increasing wind and movement Im will increase and approach the value of [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The present study investigated preferences and perceived differences between virgin and recycled polyester sports t-shirts, while monitoring participants’ use and care behaviour during real-life wear. A two-month-long wear trial was conducted with 244 participants who were asked to report their t-shirt preferences, perceived differences between t-shirts, as well as their t-shirt use and care via an online survey. T-shirts with nearly identical textile parameters were used for the trial made from virgin polyester, mechanically recycled polyester, and mechanically recycled polyester containing ocean plastics. The responses to the wear trial questionnaires showed that participants struggled to perceive a difference between the different types of polyester t-shirts, and none of the t-shirt materials was significantly preferred over another. The study gives insights into the participants’ care and use habits of sports t-shirts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]