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Sleep quality is an important issue of public concern. This study, combined with sensor application, aims to explore the determinants of perceived comfort when using smart bedding to provide empirical evidence for improving sleep quality. This study was conducted in a standard sleep laboratory in Quanzhou, China, from March to April of 2023. Perceived comfort was evaluated using the Subjective Lying Comfort Evaluation on a seven-point rating scale, and body pressure distribution was measured using a pressure sensor. Correlation analysis was employed to analyze the relationship between perceived comfort and body pressure, and multiple linear regression was used to identify the factors of perceived comfort. The results showed that body pressure was partially correlated with perceived comfort, and sleep posture significantly influenced perceived comfort. In addition, height, weight, and body mass index are common factors that influence comfort. The findings highlight the importance of optimizing the angular range of boards based on their comfort performance to adjust sleeping posture and equalize pressure distribution. Future research should consider aspects related to the special needs of different populations (such as height and weight), as well as whether users are elderly and whether they have particular diseases. The design optimization of the bed board division and mattress softness, based on traditional smart bedding, can improve comfort and its effectiveness in reducing health risks and enhancing health status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to qualitatively examine the relationship between the indoor environmental quality (IEQ), lecturers' and students' perceived internal responses and academic performance. Design/methodology/approach: To capture user experiences with the IEQ in classrooms, semi-structured interviews with 11 lecturers and three focus group discussions with 24 students were conducted, transcribed, coded and analyzed using direct content analysis. Findings: The findings show that lecturers and students experience poor thermal, lighting, acoustic and indoor air quality (IAQ) conditions that may influence their ability to teach and learn. Maintaining acceptable thermal and IAQ conditions was difficult for lecturers, as opening windows or doors caused noise disturbances. In uncomfortable conditions, lecturers may decide to give a break earlier or shorten a lecture. When students experienced discomfort, it may affect their ability to concentrate, their emotional status and their quality of learning. Research limitations/implications: The findings originate from a relatively small sample, which might have limited the number and variety of identified associations between environment and users. Practical implications: Maintaining acceptable air and thermal conditions will mitigate the need to open windows and doors. Keeping doors and windows closed will prevent noise disturbances and related distractions. This will support the quality of learning in classrooms. This study reveals the end users' perspectives and preferences, which can inspire designers of new school buildings in higher education. Originality/value: This study emphasizes the importance of creating and maintaining optimal IEQ conditions to support the quality of teaching and learning. These conditions are particularly relevant when classroom occupancy rates are high or outdoor conditions are unfavourable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionDesigning footwear for comfort is vital for preventing foot injuries and promoting foot health. This study explores the impact of auxetic structured shoe soles on plantar biomechanics and comfort, motivated by the integration of 3D printing in footwear production and the superior mechanical properties of auxetic designs. The shoe sole designs proposed in this study are based on a three-dimensional re-entrant auxetic lattice structure, orthogonally composed of re-entrant hexagonal honeycombs with internal angles less than 90 degrees. Materials fabricated using this lattice structure exhibit the characteristic of a negative Poisson's ratio, displaying lateral expansion under tension and densification under compression.MethodsThe study conducted a comparative experiment among three different lattice structured (auxetic 60°, auxetic 75° and non-auxetic 90°) thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) shoe soles and conventional polyurethane (PU) shoe sole through pedobarographic measurements and comfort rating under walking and running conditions. The study obtained peak plantar pressures (PPPs) and contact area across seven plantar regions of each shoe sole and analyzed the correlation between these biomechanical parameters and subjective comfort.ResultsCompared to non-auxetic shoe soles, auxetic structured shoe soles reduced PPPs across various foot regions and increased contact area. The Auxetic 60°, which had the highest comfort ratings, significantly lowered peak pressures and increased contact area compared to PU shoe sole. Correlation analysis showed that peak pressures in specific foot regions (hallux, second metatarsal head, and hindfoot when walking; second metatarsal head, third to fifth metatarsal head, midfoot, and hindfoot when running) were related to comfort. Furthermore, the contact area in all foot regions was significantly associated with comfort, regardless of the motion states.ConclusionThe pressure-relief performance and conformability of the auxetic lattice structure in the shoe sole contribute to enhancing footwear comfort. The insights provided guide designers in developing footwear focused on foot health and comfort using auxetic structures.

Sleep quality is an important issue of public concern. This study, combined with sensor application, aims to explore the determinants of perceived comfort when using smart bedding to provide empirical evidence for improving sleep quality. This study was conducted in a standard sleep laboratory in Quanzhou, China, from March to April of 2023. Perceived comfort was evaluated using the Subjective Lying Comfort Evaluation on a seven-point rating scale, and body pressure distribution was measured using a pressure sensor. Correlation analysis was employed to analyze the relationship between perceived comfort and body pressure, and multiple linear regression was used to identify the factors of perceived comfort. The results showed that body pressure was partially correlated with perceived comfort, and sleep posture significantly influenced perceived comfort. In addition, height, weight, and body mass index are common factors that influence comfort. The findings highlight the importance of optimizing the angular range of boards based on their comfort performance to adjust sleeping posture and equalize pressure distribution. Future research should consider aspects related to the special needs of different populations (such as height and weight), as well as whether users are elderly and whether they have particular diseases. The design optimization of the bed board division and mattress softness, based on traditional smart bedding, can improve comfort and its effectiveness in reducing health risks and enhancing health status.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Despite the availability of multiple screening options, CRC screening is underutilized. We conducted a survey of patients (n = 2973) who were prescribed the multi-target stool DNA (mt-sDNA) screening test (commercialized as Cologuard® and manufactured by Exact Sciences Corporation) to understand attitudes and experiences that influence test completion and likelihood of future test completion. Using exploratory factor analyses, we developed three scales: Perceived Effectiveness, Perceived Ease of Use, and Perceived Comfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Shoelace tightness is an important factor that may influence basketball players' performance and injury risk during shuttle slip movement. This study aimed to examine the effects of shoelace tightness on shoelace tension, lower limb kinematics and kinetics, and subjective perception in basketball players. Methods: Sixteen male college basketball players performed lateral shuffle movements with their dominant foot landing on a force plate under three shoelace tightness conditions (loose, comfortable and tight). A motion capture system and a force plate were used to measure lower limb kinematics and kinetics, respectively. A customized wireless shoelace tension system was used to measure shoelace tension at three locations on the dorsum of the foot. Visual analogue scales were used to assess perceived comfort, foot pressure and in-shoe displacement. Results: Shoelace tension increased with shoelace tightness (loose: 13.56 ± 6.21 N, comfortable: 16.14 ± 5.35 N, tight: 21.25 ± 6.19 N) and varied with shoelace position (front: 20.19 ± 5.99 N, middle: 13.71 ± 5.59 N, rear: 17.04 ± 6.95 N). Shoelace tightness also affected some of the ankle joint kinematics and kinetics as well as the subjective ratings of foot pressure and in-shoe displacement (p < 0.05). The loose shoelace increased the ankle inversion angle, while the comfortable shoelace decreased the knee negative power. The tight shoelace increased the perceived foot pressure and reduced the inshoe movement (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Shoelace tightness could significantly affect lower limb biomechanics and subjective perception during lateral shuffle in basketball. Basketball footwear designers should consider the incorporation of multiple shoelaces or zonal lacing systems to allow athletes to fine-tune the tension across different areas of the foot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The head-mounted display (HMD) for virtual reality (VR) systems is becoming more popular due to technological advancements, providing users with a more immersive experience. Since an HMD is a wearable device, head movement may be restricted, compared to situations in which an HMD is not worn, and perceived discomfort during head movement may increase. Thus, this study recruited 30 participants and investigated the effects on perceived comfort from wearing an HMD, considering the cervical range of motion (CROM) in four head movement directions (flexion, extension, lateral bending, and rotation). We propose angle boundaries for joint isocomfort in order to evaluate the appropriateness of working postures in an HMD-based VR environment. Although the maximum CROM for head movement in all directions was not significantly limited by wearing the HMD, the main effects of wearing HMD on perceived discomfort were observed from extension and lateral bending. Based on the perceived CROM comfort score, appropriate ranges for each head movement direction are proposed. This study contributes to the establishment of ergonomic guidelines on the use of HMDs and the development of VR content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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People who ride bicycles often feel unsafe and/or uncomfortable riding in various road conditions. Therefore, understanding the perceptions or experiences of bicyclists in real-world riding conditions is critical to inform interventions that enhance the experience of bike riding and therefore increase participation. A scoping review was undertaken to investigate methods used for capturing subjective experiences in the process of bicycling, or immediately post-ride. Six electronic databases and reference lists of the included studies were searched from inception to May 2021. Of the 11,904 non-duplicate articles, 53 full-text articles were included in the review. The review identified the following methods used to capture the subjective experiences: (i) on-ride method (n = 7), (ii) immediately post-ride method (n = 13), (iii) on-ride plus post-ride methods (n = 8), (iv) ride-along method (n = 4), (v) ride-along plus post-ride methods (n = 6), and (vi) intercept survey methods (n = 15). Some studies exclusively used naturalistic methods for capturing subjective experiences. There is a need to advance methods and standardise approaches to capture subjective user experiences. This is needed to ensure that we are able to understand the experiences and needs of people who ride bikes to inform the provision of safe and connected infrastructure for all ages and abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed the applicability of the Passive House standard to office buildings in northern China from an indoor environment perspective. The case building has been auto-monitored continuously since 2017 and a survey for instantaneous and retrospective appraisal of indoor environmental conditions was administered in 2021 during the summer, winter and months in between, referred to as 'transition months'. The results show that indoor environment quality was good, with high satisfaction levels and ultra-low energy consumption; overheating and the need for window opening were observed. The prevalence of sick building syndrome was reduced compared to conventional buildings. This work further determined how comfort parameters such as perceived thermal comfort, indoor air quality and acoustics could affect end-users' appraisal. Findings show that indoor thermal comfort design parameters, particularly in summer, are critical factors affecting users' satisfaction in Passive Houses. We further examined the feasibility of the PMV-PPD index for predicting occupants' perceived comfort and suggested deriving the preferred thermal comfort design parameters for the Chinese market, using long-term data and measurements. These findings provide insights into the localization of Passive Houses in China, thereby improving the acceptance of Passive Houses in what is expected to be a fast growing market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more organizations have implemented remote working, resulting in a partial overlap between home and work environments. This study aimed to develop a tool named Perceived Remote Workplace Environment Quality Indicators (PRWEQIs) to study the impact of the remote work environment on worker well-being. A preliminary 20-item version was developed. In Study 1, an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was conducted on a sample of remote students (N = 521); the results were confirmed in Study 2 through a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) on a sample of remote workers (N = 463). The final 15-item PRWEQIs include five indicators, Acoustic comfort, Visual comfort, Quality of the furnishings, Safety, and Space usability, and a second-order factor referring to General perceived comfort. The scale constitutes an initial instrument for assessing the perception of the physical-spatial qualities of the remote working environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of heel-to-toe drop (heel drop) modifications of a hiking shoe on plantar pressure distribution and perceived comfort before and after walking. Data of three shoe conditions with a low (11 mm), medium (16 mm) and high (21 mm) heel drop were obtained of twelve healthy male participants (mean age: 23.8 ± 2.8 yrs.) before (pre-test) and after a 45-minute walk in a park (post-test). Two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to investigate differences between the three shoe types at the two time points and over time. Post-hoc analyses showed few significant differences in pressure and comfort parameters between shoe conditions at the two time points. Over time, however, several significant changes in comfort measures and pressure distribution were observed depending on the shoe condition. Most of the plantar pressure changes were seen in the hiking shoe with the medium heel drop showing significantly increased pressures values in the toe and forefoot area after the walk. Comfort measures deteriorated from the pre-to the post-test, in particular for the hiking shoe with the high heel drop. The results of the study showed that comfort and pressure parameters altered from walking for 45 minutes depending on the shoe condition and that the modification of the heel drop affected pressure parameters and comfort parameters in different ways. These findings may have implications for future considerations of values for the heel drop in hiking shoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multimodality in Public Transport has been proven to be one of the main drivers of sustainability and economic feasibility for the last few decades. Consequently, user satisfaction for transfers is the key to adequately serving demand. This research studies on commuters' perception of comfort at interchanges, focusing on the connection between metro systems and other modes. Satisfaction analysis and modelling is conducted using weighted regression, factor analysis and ordered logit models for nine transfers at major interchanges in two Indian cities (New Delhi and Kolkata) and one German city (Munich); aiming at revealing the differences in user satisfaction in developing and developed economy, and for different Public Transport quality and interchanges. The results indicate that factors of transfer quality, accessibility and physical hindrances are significant in Indian case and the human factor, and transfer quality are significant in the case of Munich, Germany. Additionally, it is found that perceived comfort differs on commuters' experiences with transfer distance and time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Designing footwear for comfort is vital for preventing foot injuries and promoting foot health. This study explores the impact of auxetic structured shoe soles on plantar biomechanics and comfort, motivated by the integration of 3D printing in footwear production and the superior mechanical properties of auxetic designs. The shoe sole designs proposed in this study are based on a three-dimensional re-entrant auxetic lattice structure, orthogonally composed of re-entrant hexagonal honeycombs with internal angles less than 90 degrees. Materials fabricated using this lattice structure exhibit the characteristic of a negative Poisson's ratio, displaying lateral expansion under tension and densification under compression., Methods: The study conducted a comparative experiment among three different lattice structured (auxetic 60°, auxetic 75° and non-auxetic 90°) thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) shoe soles and conventional polyurethane (PU) shoe sole through pedobarographic measurements and comfort rating under walking and running conditions. The study obtained peak plantar pressures (PPPs) and contact area across seven plantar regions of each shoe sole and analyzed the correlation between these biomechanical parameters and subjective comfort., Results: Compared to non-auxetic shoe soles, auxetic structured shoe soles reduced PPPs across various foot regions and increased contact area. The Auxetic 60°, which had the highest comfort ratings, significantly lowered peak pressures and increased contact area compared to PU shoe sole. Correlation analysis showed that peak pressures in specific foot regions (hallux, second metatarsal head, and hindfoot when walking; second metatarsal head, third to fifth metatarsal head, midfoot, and hindfoot when running) were related to comfort. Furthermore, the contact area in all foot regions was significantly associated with comfort, regardless of the motion states., Conclusion: The pressure-relief performance and conformability of the auxetic lattice structure in the shoe sole contribute to enhancing footwear comfort. The insights provided guide designers in developing footwear focused on foot health and comfort using auxetic structures., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Zhang, Lu, Yang, Liu, Guo and Wang.)

Realistic characters from movies, games and simulations can make viewers feel strange (discomfort), an effect known as the Uncanny Valley (UV) theory. However, can the genders of CG characters and the genders of viewers change perceived comfort? In addition, can the genders (both characters and viewers) also influence the perceived charisma? Can the realism of a character also influence these aspects? This work aims to evaluate the perception of women and men about female and male characters, created using Computer Graphics (CG), presented in various media (movies, games, computer simulations, among others). Our goal is to answer the following questions: (i) How does the comfort perceived by people of both tested genders (female and male) relate to the genders of the characters? and (ii) Is the charisma influenced by the realism of the characters, considering the subjects and genders of the characters? We conducted perceptual studies on characters created using CG in images and videos through questionnaires. Our results indicated that the gender of the subjects and characters affected comfort, charisma and perceived realism. In addition, we also revisited the aspect of the UV theory (perception of comfort and human likeness) and found coherent curves compared to many works in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The automotive industry is transitioning towards a more digital future - not just the digitalization of the product itself but also the process of customer interaction, such as during the product selection process. In the product selection process, companies are enabled to collect and analyze large amounts of customer and usage data but are also challenged to understand the gathered digital data. In designing physical components, analyzing, and understanding such data can provide a competitive advantage. In gaining deeper insight into the digital selection process of cars and for understanding customers preferences related to perceived comfort of car seats, we applied a visual appearance study by presenting digital information of physical components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of dorsiflexion sports shoes is to increase jumping capacity by means of a lower position of the heel in relation to the forefoot which results in additional stretching of the ankle plantar flexors. The aim of this study was to compare a dorsiflexion sports shoe model with two conventional sports shoe models in a countermovement jump test. The sample consisted of 35 participants who performed a countermovement jump test on a force platform wearing the three models of shoes. There were significant differences in the way force was manifested (P < 0.05) in the countermovement jump test, with a decrease in the velocity of the center of gravity and an increase in force at peak power and mean force in the concentric phase. Moreover, peak power was reached earlier with the dorsiflexion sports shoe model. The drop of the center of gravity was increased in CS1 in contrast to the dorsiflexion sports shoe model (P < .05). However, the dorsiflexion sports shoes were not effective for improving either peak power or jump height (P > .05). Although force manifestation and jump kinetics differ between dorsiflexion shoes and conventional sports shoes, jump performance was similar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose : Shoelace tightness is an important factor that may influence basketball players' performance and injury risk during shuttle slip movement. This study aimed to examine the effects of shoelace tightness on shoelace tension, lower limb kinematics and kinetics, and subjective perception in basketball players. Methods : Sixteen male college basketball players performed lateral shuffle movements with their dominant foot landing on a force plate under three shoelace tightness conditions (loose, comfortable and tight). A motion capture system and a force plate were used to measure lower limb kinematics and kinetics, respectively. A customized wireless shoelace tension system was used to measure shoelace tension at three locations on the dorsum of the foot. Visual analogue scales were used to assess perceived comfort, foot pressure and in-shoe displacement. Results : Shoelace tension increased with shoelace tightness (loose: 13.56 ± 6.21 N, comfortable: 16.14 ± 5.35 N, tight: 21.25 ± 6.19 N) and varied with shoelace position (front: 20.19 ± 5.99 N, middle: 13.71 ± 5.59 N, rear: 17.04 ± 6.95 N). Shoelace tightness also affected some of the ankle joint kinematics and kinetics as well as the subjective ratings of foot pressure and in-shoe displacement ( p < 0.05). The loose shoelace increased the ankle inversion angle, while the comfortable shoelace decreased the knee negative power. The tight shoelace increased the perceived foot pressure and reduced the inshoe movement ( p < 0.05). Conclusions : Shoelace tightness could significantly affect lower limb biomechanics and subjective perception during lateral shuffle in basketball. Basketball footwear designers should consider the incorporation of multiple shoelaces or zonal lacing systems to allow athletes to fine-tune the tension across different areas of the foot., (© 2023 Yunqi Tang et al., published by Sciendo.)

Background: Inappropriate postures when carrying loads and heavy objects can result in physical problems and changes in the bodychr('39')s skeletal structure and pressure on the sole of the foot. Therefore, this study was to evaluate the foot plantar pressure and the perceived comfort of two new types of ergonomic and common backpacks. Methods: This study, which is semi- experimental, was performed on 20 female students aged 18 to 25 years. The PT-Scan Foot Scanner was used to measure the plantar pressure. The subjects, with the both types of backpacks, carried 10% of their body weight in walking, standing and balancing mode. After this stage, the perceived comfort of the backpacks was evaluated by using the Borg scale. Results: The results showed that the difference in mean pressure of the foot between the two new ergonomic and common backpacks was not statistically significant (p> 0.05). But the average score of perceived comfort in the two parts of the waist and back pad, and the two new ergonomic and common backpacks while carrying was significant (p< 0.05). Conclusion: According the finding, the features used in the design of the new backpack did not show statistically significant effect on decrease the foot pressure, but it decreased of perceived exertion and improved the perceived comfort and maintained the posture in the back and back areas. Therefore, using this backpack model probably could reduce musculoskeletal disorders in these areas in the long time.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of using asymmetric crank arms in cyclists affected by an inequality in lower limb length. Three male cyclists with a lower limb length difference of 28, 14, and 10 mm performed three experimental test sessions separated by 5 days, which were conducted using three different crank arm length conditions (170 mm for the long lower limb and 170, 165, and 160 mm for the short lower limb). Each test session included one 8-min pedalling exercise at 60% of maximal power output, two 10-s sprints, and one 30-s Wingate test. Power output was assessed during the supra-maximal exercises; while, physiological (heart rate, oxygen consumption, gross efficiency, and cycling economy) and biomechanical (hip, knee and ankle 2D kinematics) variables were measured during the submaximal exercises. Perceived exertion and perceived comfort were evaluated during all pedalling exercises. The results showed that the shortening of the crank length for the short lower limb (160 and 165 vs. 170 mm) reduced the knee and ankle extension and the hip and knee range of motion. In addition, the maximal power output and the perceived comfort were improved, while the perceived exertion was reduced. Therefore, the use of asymmetric crank arms during cycling could compensate for lower limb length discrepancy by modifying joint kinematics and by improving performance and perceived comfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing building automation aims to replace manual controls with programmed systems to improve energy efficiency. However, limiting manual control may compromise occupant comfort. To this end, this paper presents a field study that explores the relationships between occupants' perceived control and comfort, and their preferences for building automation. In-office semi-structured interviews were conducted with 170 occupants in 23 institutional buildings at a Canadian university campus. All interviews entailed verbally administering a survey while photographs were systematically captured to document each occupants' workspace and the context of their interactions with their buildings. Occupants were generally dissatisfied with building automation and preferred more manual controls. Their perception of comfort was moderately correlated to their perception of control over their indoor environment. The findings of this research contribute to a broader debate within the research community about the appropriate level of building automation and the relationship between occupant comfort and control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Running-related injuries have been associated with excessive foot pronation and high vertical loading rates. Traditional plaster-molded (TPM) foot orthoses are commonly prescribed to minimize these atypical biomechanical patterns. Recently, 3D printed (3DP) orthoses have become popular, yet the functional difference between these two types of orthoses remains unknown. Therefore, this study compared running biomechanics and perceived comfort during treadmill running in three orthotic conditions: 3DP orthoses, TPM orthoses, and a no-orthoses control condition (CON). Thirteen female asymptomatic runners with excessive foot pronation were recruited. Rearfoot eversion angle and velocity (at initial contact and peak) during stance, vertical loading rates, and perceived comfort were compared. Results showed lower peak rearfoot eversion angles during running with TPM (p=0.001, d=0.38) or 3DP orthoses (p=0.002, d=0.24) than CON. No differences were observed in other biomechanical parameters among the three conditions (p>0.05). Running with TPM (p≤0.001, d=1.74–1.82) and 3DP orthoses (p<0.003, d=1.06–1.34) resulted in better perceived comfort in "medial-lateral control" and "heel cushioning" than CON. There were no statistical differences in all parameters between TPM and 3DP orthoses. The present findings indicate improved comfort during running with TPM or 3DP orthoses, which hinted 3DP orthoses could be a viable alternative to TPM orthoses for clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personal control over various indoor environment parameters, especially in the last decades, appear to have a significant role on occupants' comfort, health and productivity. To reveal this complex relationship, 7441 occupants of 167 recently built or retrofitted office buildings in eight European countries participated in an online survey about personal/health/work data as well as physical/psycho-social information. The relationship between the types of control available over indoor environments and the perceived personal control of the occupants was examined, as well as the combined effect of the control parameters on the perceived comfort using multilevel statistical models. The results indicated that most of the occupants have no or low control on noise. Half of the occupants declared no or low control on ventilation and temperature conditions. Almost one-third of them remarked that they do not have satisfactory levels of control for lighting and shading from sun conditions. The presence of operable windows was shown to influence occupants' control perception over temperature, ventilation, light and noise. General building characteristics, such as floor number and floor area, office type, etc., helped occupants associate freedom positively with control perception. Combined controlling parameters seem to have a strong relation with overall comfort, as well as with perception regarding amount of privacy, office layout and decoration satisfaction. The results also indicated that occupants with more personal control may have less building-related symptoms. Noise control parameter had the highest impact on the occupants' overall comfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly a quarter of a million of Australia's ageing population live in residential aged care facilities. Given the growing ageing population in Australia, it is important to understand the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of these settings in consideration of not only measurable IEQ data but also senior occupants' perceived comfort for their health and wellbeing. In this research, a residential aged care facility was selected in Victoria, Australia, as a case study to examine these relationships across different seasons. IEQ monitoring devices were deployed for continuous and instantaneous data collection on site. Questionnaires and personal interviews were also conducted across three user groups (residents, staff and visitors) to establish an understanding of the users' perceptions. This study found the existence of a gap between measurable and perceptual IEQ according to the building configuration and occupancy as well as the user lifestyle and activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Car seat is one of the most important parts of the direct contact with consumers, consumers' subjective perception of seat comfort depends on the choice of car, and the automobile industry in the perception of car seat comfort evaluation and research work, is still in its infancy, convened by the project through to the six major cities, 900 consumers respectively for 18 to subjective comfort evaluation of standard models, this article selects three same level models of standard models, for example, through the factor analysis method to calculate the subjective comfort ratings, and use the objective measurement data of subjective rating transverse comparison test. The results show that the subjective comfort score can reflect the comfort degree of the seat.

Though several studies have reported human alertness to be affected by the intensity and spectral composition of ambient light, the mechanism behind this effect is still largely unclear, especially for daytime exposure. Alerting effects of nocturnal light exposure are correlated with melatonin suppression, but melatonin levels are generally low during the day. The aim of this study was to explore the alerting effect of light in the morning for different correlated colour temperature (CCT) values, as well as its interaction with ambient temperature. Body temperature and perceived comfort were included in the study as possible mediating factors. In a randomized crossover design, 16 healthy females participated in two sessions, once under 2700 K and once under 6500 K light (both 55 lx). Each session consisted of a baseline, a cool, a neutral and a warm thermal environment. Alertness as measured in a reaction time task was lower for the 6500 K exposure, while subjective sleepiness was not affected by CCT. Also, core body temperature was higher under 6500 K. Skin temperature parameters and perceived comfort were positively correlated with subjective sleepiness. Reaction time correlated with heat loss, but this association did not explain why the reaction time was improved for 2700 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personal control over various indoor environment parameters, especially in the last decades, appear to have a significant role on occupants’ comfort, health and productivity. To reveal this complex relationship, 7441 occupants of 167 recently built or retrofitted office buildings in eight European countries participated in an online survey about personal/health/work data as well as physical/psycho-social information. The relationship between the types of control available over indoor environments and the perceived personal control of the occupants was examined, as well as the combined effect of the control parameters on the perceived comfort using multilevel statistical models. The results indicated that most of the occupants have no or low control on noise. Half of the occupants declared no or low control on ventilation and temperature conditions. Almost one-third of them remarked that they do not have satisfactory levels of control for lighting and shading from sun conditions. The presence of operable windows was shown to influence occupants’ control perception over temperature, ventilation, light and noise. General building characteristics, such as floor number and floor area, office type, etc., helped occupants associate freedom positively with control perception. Combined controlling parameters seem to have a strong relation with overall comfort, as well as with perception regarding amount of privacy, office layout and decoration satisfaction. The results also indicated that occupants with more personal control may have less building-related symptoms. Noise control parameter had the highest impact on the occupants’ overall comfort.

Purpose—The purpose of this article is to present evidence of occupants’ perception of their work environment in five different office types (Solo, Duo, 2–4, 5–8 and 8Plus offices). The study examined the influence of the number of office occupants on individual perception of indoor environment quality (IEQ) in office environments. Design/methodology/approach—A dataset of 5000 respondents in 67 commercial and institutional office buildings was analysed using IBM SPSS v23. The dataset contained user response on the BUS Methodology questionnaire that is designed to retrieve occupants’ perception of their work environments. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and multiple regression analysis were conducted to calculate the impact of the office environment on occupants’ perception of comfort and productivity. Findings - This study showed that occupants in Solo and Duo offices perceived higher satisfaction with their environment (except for temperature in summer), better health and productivity; and more control over the office environment than those in 5–8 and 8Plus offices. Occupants in 8Plus offices were most satisfied with the temperature in summer. It was also noted that the IEQ factors that predicted comfort were observed to not predict productivity. Noise was the only IEQ factor that had predictive power for both comfort and productivity in all the office spaces. Originality/value—This article provides intriguing findings on occupants’ perception of various types of office environment that contributes significantly to the debate on open-plan versus cellular office environments.

Passivhaus methodology leads to buildings with very high thermal efficiency and high levels of airtightness. The focus of research in Passivhaus is energy performance. The experience of occupying a Passivhaus is often overlooked. This research takes into account social factors of comfort among Passivhaus ‘participants’; draws comparison between their expectations and evaluations of the ‘perceived comfort’; and investigates the behavioural and psychological adaptive processes that contribute to this ‘perceived comfort’. A diverse range of Passivhaus projects built in the past few years in the UK is studied with a mixed method approach. The findings suggest a strong correlation between social aspects of comfort and the participants’ evaluation of their Passivhaus, where the adaptive processes are potentially reinforced (or reduced) by this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transmission of COVID-19 occurs predominantly through respired droplets and aerosols containing the SARS-CoV-2 virus. As a solution, face masks have been used to protect against infection. Wearing face masks during indoor exercises is essential to prevent the spread of virus-containing respiratory droplets and aerosols. However, previous studies have not investigated all elements, including the users' perceived breathability (PB) and perceived air quality (PAQ) when wearing a face mask during indoor exercises. The current study aimed to assess users' perceived comfort (PC) of face masks based on assessment criteria of PB and PAQ during moderate to vigorous exercises, and compare them with those during normal daily activities. Data on PC, PB, and PAQ were collected from an online questionnaire survey from 104 participants doing regular moderate to vigorous exercises. Within-subjects comparison with self-controlled case series design was performed to compare PC, PB, and PAQ between wearing face masks during exercises and daily activities. Results showed that the degree of dissatisfaction with PC, PB, and PAQ while wearing face masks and performing indoor exercises is higher than when performing daily activities ( p < 0.05). The significance of the study implies that masks comfortable for daily activities may not remain the same during moderate to vigorous exercises, especially during indoor exercises.

Optimizing comfort for occupants and its related energy use is becoming more important. Presently, however, heating ventilation air-conditioning (HVAC) system installations often do not work in practice effectively and efficiently as the behaviour of the occupants is not included. The results are comfort complaints as well as unnecessary high-energy consumption. As the end-user influence becomes even more important within the energy process of sustainable buildings, it is necessary to integrate the occupants in the buildings' performance control loop. Laboratory experiments were performed to look for a correlation between infrared (IR) sensor temperature registrations and individual perceived thermal comfort in an individually conditioned workplace. It proved that it is in principle possible to use the third finger skin temperature as a control parameter for perceived thermal comfort. In another experiment in a real in-use office building, a wireless sensor network was applied to describe user behaviour on room and floor level. The results showed that it is possible to capture individual user behaviour and to use this to further optimize comfort in relation to energy consumption. Based on our experiments, we could determine the influence of occupants' behaviour on energy use and determine possible energy reduction by implementing the human-in-the-loop process control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to investigate building performance from the occupants'' perspective and to compare how the residents in low-energy multi-family buildings and conventional buildings, respectively, perceive the comfort of, and satisfaction with, indoor elements. Additionally, the study explores differences in living-in, operation and management in low-energy and conventional residential buildings. The key data was obtained by surveys sent to occupants of carefully selected comparable buildings: three low-energy and three conventional residential buildings. Responses were compared and statistical difference was tested by the Mann–Whitney test and the Kruskal–Wallis test. Findings indicate that both low-energy and conventional residential buildings have satisfied and less satisfied tenants. The occupants'' satisfaction might decrease if thermal discomfort leads them to use supplementary heating; however, use of supplementary cooling does not have the same significance. Problems and concerns regarding ventilation and heating appeared in both types of buildings. Results suggest that, compared with conventional buildings, low-energy residential buildings required the same or less system adjustment, which suggests that, from a lifecycle perspective, the low-energy buildings are the better investment. Occupants'' responses suggest that the “green” profile of the building has a positive impact on their environmental awareness and behaviour. This paper shows that occupants'' feedback is an important part of comprehensive building performance assessment, indicating areas for improvement relevant for developers and housing managers. The presented results show that problems often identified as specific to low-energy buildings also appear in conventional buildings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

MILLS, K., P. BLANCH, and B. VICENZINO. Influence of Contouring and Hardness of Foot Orthoses on Ratings of Perceived Comfort. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc, Vol. 43, No. 8, pp. 1507-1512, 2011. Purpose: Comfort is a vital component of orthosis therapy. The purpose of this study was to examine what features of orthoses (design or hardness) influence the perception of comfort by using previously established footwear comfort measures: 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS) and ranking scale. Methods: Twenty subjects were consecutively allocated to two experiments consisting of five sessions of repeated measures. Comfort measures were taken from four prefabricated orthosis in each session using the VAS (experiment 1) and ranking scale (experiment 2). Subjects in experiment 1 were also asked to rate each orthosis relative to their shoe using a criterion scale. Measures were taken in both walking and jogging. Results: A soft-fiat orthosis was found to be significantly more comfortable than all contoured orthoses, including one of the same hardness using both the VAS and ranking scale. Using the VAS, differences between the soft-flat and contoured orthoses were also found to be clinically meaningful for dimensions of overall comfort and arch cushioning (>10.2 mm). Perceived comfort of orthoses significantly differed between walking and jogging on the VAS but was not clinically meaningful. Comparisons between the VAS and criterion scale detected a VAS difference of 11.34 mm between orthoses judged as comfortable as my shoe and slightly more comfortable than my shoe. There was a VAS difference of 17.49 mm between orthoses judged as comfortable as my shoe and slightly less comfortable than my shoe. Conclusions: Healthy subjects prioritize contouring over hardness when judging the comfort of orthoses. Clinically meaningful changes were required to change or enhance the comfort of orthoses standardized in material type and fabrication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Previous studies have shown that building, social and personal factors can influence one’s perceived health and comfort. The aim of the underlying study was to get a better understanding of the relationships between these factors and perceived comfort. Self-administered questionnaires from 5732 respondents in 59 office buildings and building-specific data from the European Health Optimisation Protocol for Energy-efficient buildings (HOPE) study were used. Principal Component Analysis (PCA), reliability analyses, and linear regression analysis were performed. The outcome showed that perceived comfort is strongly influenced by several personal, social and building factors and that their relationships are complex. Results showed that perceived comfort is much more than the average of perceived indoor air quality, noise, lighting and thermal comfort responses. Perceived comfort is a phenomenon that deserves more research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Edentulism often involves functional, esthetic, phonetic and psychological problems. Objectives: To evaluate patient-centered outcomes of full-arch screw-retained rehabilitation on immediately loaded implants. Material and methods: Fifty patients treated with Astra Tech™ implants answered self-administered questionnaires on a visual analogue scale (VAS) 100 mm scale or with multiple-choice or open questions: at baseline, 1 week, 3 or 6 months and 1 year. Changes of VAS in time were analyzed using mixed models for repeated measures, adjusting for gender, age and jaw; comparison of cross-sectional parameters between jaws was performed with the Mann–Whitney U- or χ2-test, all at the 0.05 significance level. Results: The median calculated general satisfaction score increased from 40.25 (mean=40.9; SD=23.82; range=0–95) at baseline to 98.25 (mean=95.3; SD=6.68; range=74–100) after 1 year. Overall comfort, eating comfort, speaking comfort and perceived esthetics improved significantly within 1 week after surgery and immediate provisionalization. This did not change significantly until the final bridge was installed after 3 months (mandible) or 6 months (maxilla), when a further significant improvement was demonstrated. The most common postoperative complication was swelling, especially in the maxilla. The importance of one-stage surgery and immediate loading was rated very high by patients before treatment, especially in the mandible. The main reason for choosing fixed prosthetics was eating comfort. Phonetics and esthetics were more important in the maxilla than in the mandible. Conclusion: Immediate full-arch rehabilitation yeilds an instant significant improvement in general patient satisfaction and self-perceived factors related to comfort, function and esthetics. Eating comfort is the main concern for the patient and shows the highest improvement. Postoperative complications are limited and patients considered immediate loading important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With lateral ankle sprains being the most frequent sports-related injury, there is an evident demand for the preventive measures in active individuals with chronic ankle instability. Braces are commonly used for prevention and treatment of ankle injuries. Various investigations—mostly performed with healthy subjects—focused on this problem, yet they often compared only a few models or used only limited testing procedures. However, controversy exists whether braces affect sports performance. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of ten different ankle braces—one rigid, five semirigid, four soft models—in a comprehensive evaluation with multiple testing procedures in 34 subjects with self-reported chronic ankle instability. The multiple testing procedures evaluated objective performance-related parameters and subjective parameters related to comfort and stability. The subjects performed an agility course with maximal effort. The course included a vertical jump and a cutting maneuver, both on a force platform, a single leg hopping test on level and inclined plates, a combined straight and curve sprint and sidesteps. Three valid trials were measured and averaged for each brace and every subject. Subjective aspects were evaluated with a questionnaire about handling, perceived restrictions, support and comfort; it was completed after each brace was worn and tried. With regard to the objective parameters, no significant differences were found between the braces except for the rigid brace which showed decreased values for the vertical jump and longer times for the other tests compared to all other braces. The subjective evaluation of the braces revealed significant differences with respect to comfort and handling and therefore, permitted a distinction between semirigid and soft braces. Although significant differences between braces were found in subjective performance restriction, no significant differences were revealed in the objective evaluation. From that point of view, patients could choose a brace model according to their individual needs. A comfortable brace might have a positive influence on the athlete’s state of mind although other aspects like the brace’s stabilizing effect play an additional role and should also be taken into account for recommendation of braces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]