bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deep drawing of organic sheets made of hybrid recycled carbon and thermoplastic polyamide 6 staple fiber yarns
Authors: Goergen Christian , Schommer Dominic , Duhovic Miro , Mitschang Peter
Published: November 2018

Fully impregnated fiber-reinforced thermoplastic sheets, or the so-called organic sheets, allow the thermoforming of parts within very short cycle times. This article describes the development of the next generation of organic sheet materials based on recycled carbon fibers and polyamide 6 staple fiber yarns. Regardless of the recycled nature of the fibers and an average fiber length of 25 mm, the organic sheets still reach a comparable level of the tensile strength and modulus of continuous fiber-reinforced organic sheets made of virgin CF with the same reinforcement structure. Due to the staple fiber yarn architecture, the organic sheets feature a deep-drawing ability of a total plastic deformation up to 50% in the fiber direction. The effect is enabled via an interfiber sliding when the organic sheet is processed in the molten condition. The creation of a finite element model for the thermoforming process simulation of the material is also presented. Predictions of the plastic strain distribution and its magnitude are shown to agree well with forming experiments where a curved geometry is formed to different depths.
Health Service Utilization and State Costs Among Adults Aging With Early-Acquired Physical Disabilities in Medicaid Managed Care
Authors: Yamaki Kiyoshi , Wing Coady , Mitchell Dale , Owen Randall , Heller Tamar
Published: November 2018

Objective: We evaluated the impact of Medicaid managed care (MMC) on health service use and state costs among adults with early-acquired physical disabilities. Method: Using claims data, we tracked utilization of the emergency department (ED), inpatient admissions, outpatient physician visits, and state expenditures on enrollees who transitioned to MMC ( n = 881). The inverse propensity score weight and a difference-in-differences regression model were used to estimate the impact of MMC using their counterparts who remained in fee-for-service ( n = 1,552) as the comparison group. Results: MMC reduced ED use by 3.2% points/month ( p < .001). Relative to younger enrollees (age ⩽45 years), MMC reduced inpatient admissions of older enrollees (age ⩾46 years) by 3.3% points/month ( p < .001), and state expenditures by US$839/month ( p < .01). Discussion: MMC could reduce the hospital service use of and state spending on enrollees with early-acquired physical disabilities. This impact may vary depending on the enrollees’ age.
Mortality Following Trajectories of Mobility Limitations: The Modifying Impact of Social Factors
Authors: Jørgensen Terese Sara Høj , Siersma Volkert , Lund Rikke , Nilsson Charlotte Juul
Published: November 2018

Objective: How are trajectories of mobility limitations (MLs) among older adults associated with mortality? Do social factors modify these associations? Method: Group-based trajectory modeling was used to identify four trajectories of MLs over a period of 4.5 years among 3,055 older Danes. Mortality analyses were conducted using additive hazard regression models. Results: Compared to older adults without MLs, older adults with high level of MLs who experienced further increase in MLs were associated with the most additional deaths followed by older adults with no MLs at baseline who later experienced limitations and older adults with a medium ML level at baseline who later experienced further increase in limitations. Men and 80-year olds experienced more additional deaths following adverse ML trajectories than women and 75-year olds. Discussion: Trajectories that led to higher ML levels were associated with most additional deaths especially among men and in the oldest age group.
Static form-finding of normal and defective catenaries based on the analytical exact solution of the tensile Euler–Bernoulli beam
Authors: Vesali Farzad , Rezvani Mohammad Ali , Molatefi Habibolah , Hecht Markus
Published: November 2018

The aim of this research is to propose and develop an analytical exact solution for finding the static equilibrium configuration of a catenary before and after incurring defects such as tension loss or a broken dropper. The procedure includes considering the steady-state solution of the dynamic motion equation of the contact wire and the messenger cable. The wire and the cable are considered as tensile Euler–Bernoulli beams. The stiffness matrix of the beam is configured and is used to calculate the dropper's dead load. Progressively, a novel method is proposed to find the equilibrium configuration of the same catenary after the defect. The results prove that the tension loss in the messenger cable is more precarious than the tension loss in the contact wire. The broken dropper causes a significant sag in the sub-span and increases the static forces of the adjacent droppers. A comparison with field measurements justifies the accuracy of the results of the proposed model.
Pupillary Contagion in Autism
Authors: Galazka Martyna A. , Åsberg Johnels Jakob , Zürcher Nicole R. , Hippolyte Loyse , Lemonnier Eric , Billstedt Eva , Gillberg Christopher , Hadjikhani Nouchine
Published: November 2018

Pupillary contagion is an involuntary change in the observer’s pupil size in response to the pupil size of another person. This effect, presumed to be an important adaption for individuals living in groups, has been documented in both typical infants and adults. Here, for the first time, we report pupillary contagion in individuals with autism, a disorder of social communication. We found that, compared with a typical group ( n = 63), individuals with autism ( n = 54) exhibited comparable pupillary contagion when observing pictures of emotional faces, despite less spontaneous attention toward the eye region. Furthermore, the magnitude of the pupillary response in the autism group was negatively correlated with time spent fixating the eye region. The results suggest that even with less looking toward the eyes, individuals with autism respond to the affective and arousal levels transmitted from other individuals. These results are discussed in the context of an overarousal account of socioaffective-processing differences in autism.
White Matter Injury in Early Brain Injury after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Pang Jinwei , Peng Jianhua , Yang Ping , Kuai Li , Chen Ligang , Zhang John H. , Jiang Yong
Published: November 2018

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a major cause of high morbidity, disability, and mortality in the field of neurovascular disease. Most previous SAH studies have focused on improving cerebral blood flow, reducing cerebral vasospasm, reducing neuronal calcium overload, and other treatments. While these studies showed exciting findings in basic science, therapeutic strategies based on the findings have not significantly improved neurological outcomes in patients with SAH. Currently, the only drug proven to effectively reduce the neurological defects of SAH patients is nimodipine. Current advances in imaging technologies in the field of stroke have confirmed that white matter injury (WMI) plays an important role in the prognosis of types of stroke, and suggests that WMI protection is essential for functional recovery and poststroke rehabilitation. However, WMI injury in relation to SAH has remained obscure until recently. An increasing number of studies suggest that the current limitations for SAH treatment are probably linked to overlooked WMI in previous studies that focused only on neurons and gray matter. In this review, we discuss the biology and functions of white matter in the normal brain, and discuss the potential pathophysiology and mechanisms of early brain injury after SAH. Our review demonstrates that WMI encompasses multiple substrates, and, therefore, more than one pharmacological approach is necessary to preserve WMI and prevent neurobehavioral impairment after SAH. Strategies targeting both neuronal injury and WMI may potentially provide a novel future for SAH knowledge and treatment.
Producing the Aesthetic Self: An Analysis of Aesthetic Skill and Labour in the Organized Retail Industries in India
Authors: Maitra Saikat , Maitra Srabani
Published: November 2018

Drawing on the concept of aesthetic labour, this article examines how skill training programmes in the organized retail industries in Kolkata modulate underclass female service worker-bodies to align them with the corporeal ideals of a globally fetishized consumer-citizenship aesthetics. Applicants for the entry-level jobs in retail are usually young women from economically underprivileged families, who are routinely viewed as being ‘deficient’ in the basic social, communicational and cultural norms. This necessitates a refashioning of the workers’ personhood by changing their bodily deportments, hygiene standards, communicational skills and social etiquettes. Yet there is little sustained examination of the impact of such skill training on the everyday lives of young female employees who are simultaneously tied to the aspirations for corporate social mobility as well as the vagaries of their own personal lives imbued with poverty, low wage and socio-economic precariousness. Based on a two-year ethnography in shopping malls in Kolkata, this study makes an original contribution in reflecting on how, while female service workers might very well learn to inhabit spaces like shopping malls through a learnt performance of embodied consumer cosmopolitanism under aesthetic labour regimes, their class backgrounds continue to produce moral surveillance, frictions as well as restrictions.
Central banking and financial political power: An investigation into the European Central Bank
Authors: Kalaitzake Manolis
Published: November 2018

In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, there has been a major scholarly revival of the topic of financial political power and a refocus on questions concerning democracy, elites, and inequality. Nevertheless, there remains a dearth in the literature regarding the precise nature of the political relationship between the financial sector and central banks. This is problematic given the sharp rise in institutional prominence enjoyed by central bank officials in the post crisis era and their fundamental importance in the governance of financial markets. As a corrective, this paper develops a provisional analytical framework through which the power dynamics between the financial sector and central banks can be fruitfully explored, specifically with reference to the European Central Bank. It does so by identifying four mechanisms through which financial actors potentially influence the policy choices of the European Central Bank – revolving doors, closed policy circles, capital flight/disinvestment, Too Big to Fail – and illustrates their operation empirically in the context of the bank’s organizational functioning and post crisis interventions. The paper illustrates how financial actors enjoy systematic advantages in the domain of central bank policymaking and provides significant evidence that the European Central Bank has been a key ally of the financial sector throughout the Eurozone crisis. The paper calls for a more extensive examination by scholars of the financial sector-central bank relationship as a means to clarify the precise scope of, and limitations to, contemporary financial political power.
A Systematic Review of Barriers to Access-to-Care in Hispanics With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Titus Sharon K. , Kataoka-Yahiro Merle
Published: November 2018

Introduction: A systematic review was conducted to highlight current barriers to access-to-care for Hispanics with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Method: PubMed and CINAHL databases (2010-2015) using PRISMA guidelines. 84 studies were identified, 12 quantitative studies were selected for review remained based on inclusion/exclusion criteria. There were five research questions: (1) What samples/settings were included? (2) What theories guided each study? (3) What were the study aims and (4) designs? (5) What barriers of access-to-care were identified? Barriers were placed into three categories set a priori. Results: The word “barrier” was in one study aim. Barriers of self (92%), provider (50%), and environment (25%) were identified. Self-care behaviors (diet and exercise), individual resources (cost factors), lack of providers specializing in T2D, and environmental factors affect Hispanics with T2D access-to-care. Discussion: These barriers to access underscore current importance to Hispanics with T2D. A follow-up review should be conducted as new barriers are expected to emerge.
Vibration reduction performance parameters matching for adaptive tunable vibration absorber
Authors: Gao Pu , Xiang Changle , Liu Hui , Walker Paul , Zhou Han
Published: November 2018

Based on the principle of vibration absorber, an adaptive tunable vibration absorber with the magnetorheological elastomer as the core intelligent component was designed to eliminate variable frequency vibration of the powertrain system. The simulation of the magnetic circuit of the adaptive tunable vibration absorber was carried out to ensure the magnetic field generated by the design with a closed magnetic circuit could meet the requirement. The transient dynamic simulation analysis of the adaptive tunable vibration absorber shows that the natural frequency of the vibration absorber could well follow the external excitation signal. The natural vibration sensitivity analysis of the 4-degree-of-freedom dynamic system of the powertrain system was performed to obtain the key moment of inertia that affects the natural frequencies of each stage and then the installation position of the adaptive tunable vibration absorber corresponding to external excitation near the resonant frequency band could be determined. Subsequently, taking the third natural vibration as an example, an adaptive tunable vibration absorber with corresponding variable-stiffness range was installed on the key moment of inertia affecting the vibration of this order. The transient changes of each natural vibration frequency of the powertrain system with the adaptive tunable vibration absorber were studied and then the best starting and stopping frequencies were determined. According to the optimal frequency tuning scheme, the variation range of the storage modulus required for the magnetorheological elastomer material in the limited magnetic field range was obtained. The relationship between the controllable current and the torsional stiffness of the vibration absorber is established. Aiming at the vibration problem near the third-order natural vibration, the best vibration reduction performance parameters were matched to the adaptive tunable vibration absorber. Finally, a time-frequency analysis was applied to the powertrain system with adaptive tunable vibration absorber, and the result shows that the best performance parameter matching for the adaptive tunable vibration absorber could effectively improve its vibration reduction performance.
Trial and (Potential) Error: Conflicting Visions on Reparations Within the ICC System
Authors: Balta Alina , Bax Manon , Letschert Rianne
Published: November 2018

Twenty years ago, the International Criminal Court (hereinafter ICC or the Court) was established holding the aim of placing victims at the heart of international criminal justice proceedings and delivering justice to them through, among others, reparations. Article 75 of the Rome Statute lays out the reparations regime, and, in practice, court-ordered reparations are a means of delivering such justice. Focusing on Court decisions on reparations, our analysis takes stock of all developments before the ICC and attempts to highlight the mismatch between characteristics inherent to the objectives of international criminal trials such as providing accountability and punishment of the accused and delivering justice for victims of mass crimes—the so-called procedural challenges. We also submit that the Court is facing conceptual challenges, related to an apparent misunderstanding of the various concepts at stake: reparations as such and the various modalities and channels of enforcing them. We conclude that although the ICC’s reparation regime may not be the best reparative response to provide justice to victims in conflict situations affected by mass victimization, we suggest that improving the ICC’s approach includes, at a minimum, tackling these challenges.
Enactments of a Minor Inquiry
Authors: Mazzei Lisa A. , Graham Matthew C. , Smithers Laura E.
Published: November 2018

In this article, we map conditions and enactments for a new plane of inquiry, what Mazzei named a minor inquiry. Informed by our collective thinking with Deleuze and Guattari’s discussion of a minor literature and its attendant characteristics, deterritorialization, political immediacy, and collective assemblage of enunciation, we present the conditions for inquiry on this new plane, provide enactments from our individual projects, and conclude with incitements for escaping the dogma of prescribed method.
‘Cookpetition’: Do restaurants coopete to innovate?
Authors: Romero Isidoro , Gómez Igone Porto , Zabala-Iturriagagoitia Jon Mikel
Published: November 2018

This article studies the influence of ‘coopetition’, that is, cooperation between competitors, on the innovative behaviour of restaurant firms. The analysis is based on data gathered from a representative survey conducted on Spanish small and medium-sized enterprises operating in the restaurant industry. A binary logistic regression specification is used to test the core hypotheses in the article. The results confirm that coopetition fosters product innovation in restaurant companies. Coopeting restaurants also introduce more process innovations, although this effect is not found to be statistically significant. However, participation in restaurant chains and commercialization networks is found to stimulate process innovation. Likewise, business owners with intrinsic entrepreneurial motivation favour product innovation in their restaurants. Notwithstanding, investments in ICT and in staff training are observed to be the main determinants of product and process innovation in the restaurant industry.
A Cross-Cultural Comparison of Climacteric Symptoms, Health-Seeking Behavior, and Attitudes towards Menopause Among Mosuo Women and Han Chinese Women in Yunnan, China
Authors: Zhang Ying , Zhao Xudong , Leonhart Rainer , Nadig Maya , Wang Jikun , Zhao Yunhan , Wirsching Michael , Fritzsche Kurt
Published: November 2018

Cultural *YZ and XZ contributed equally. background has been shown to influence climacteric symptoms of women. This study compares various characteristics of climacteric symptoms, illness conception, health-seeking behavior, and attitude towards menopause of Mosuo women, a Chinese ethnic minority with a matriarchal structure, and Han Chinese women, the majority ethnic group of China with a patriarchal structure. Through convenience sampling, 51 Mosuo and 47 Han women ages 40 to 60 completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the modified Kupperman Menopause Index (KMI), the Self-Rating Scale of Illness Conception and Health Seeking Behavior (SSICHSB) and the Menopause Attitude Questionnaire (MAQ). The Mosuo and Han Chinese women are comparable with regard to their age, educational levels and menstrual status. During climacteric, Mosuo women showed less severe melancholia ( p = .009), reported less health-seeking behavior ( p = .009), and displayed more positive attitudes towards menopause than their Han Chinese counterparts ( p < .001). One predictive variable of the melancholia severity in Mosuo was “menarche age”, while that in the Han group was “social view on the menopause”. Future research with a larger sample is needed to deepen our understanding about the interaction between culture and climacteric symptoms.
Neural Correlates of Hypokinetic Dysarthria and Mechanisms of Effective Voice Treatment in Parkinson Disease
Authors: Baumann Alexander , Nebel Adelheid , Granert Oliver , Giehl Kathrin , Wolff Stephan , Schmidt Wiebke , Baasch Christin , Schmidt Gerhard , Witt Karsten , Deuschl Günther , Hartwigsen Gesa , Zeuner Kirsten E. , van Eimeren Thilo
Published: November 2018

Background. Hypokinetic dysarthria is highly prevalent in idiopathic Parkinson disease (PD), and effectiveness of high-intensity voice treatment is well established. However, the neural correlates remain largely unknown. Objective. We aimed to specify cerebral pathophysiology of hypokinetic dysarthria and treatment-induced changes using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Methods. We used fMRI to investigate healthy controls (HCs) and patients with idiopathic PD–associated dysarthria before and after treatment according to the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD (LSVT). During fMRI, participants covertly read sentences with normal (eg, conversation in a quiet room) or high (eg, shouting on a windy beach) intensity. In addition, we tested LSVT effects on intelligibility and different speech features (intensity, pitch, articulation). Results. LSVT effectively improved intelligibility, articulation, and pitch in patients. Covert high-intensity speech compared with covert normal-intensity speech led to increased activation of mainly secondary motor areas and bilateral superior and medial temporal regions. Prior to LSVT, patients showed less activity in several speech-associated areas compared with HCs. As a neural correlate of effective LSVT, increased right-sided superior temporal activity correlated with improved intelligibility. Conclusion. This is the first brain imaging study using a covert speech paradigm in PD, which revealed cortical hypoactivation as correlate of hypokinetic dysarthria. Furthermore, cortical correlates of effective LSVT treatment colocalized with the neuronal network, showing increased activation during high- versus normal-intensity speech generation.
Study on the Chemical Modification Process of Jute Fiber
Authors: Wang Wei-ming , Cai Zai-sheng , Yu Jian-yong
Published: November 2018

Degumming of pre-chlorite treated jute fiber was studied in this paper. The effects of sodium hydroxide concentration, treatment time, temperature, sodium silicate concentration, fiber-to-liquor ratio, penetrating agent TF-107B concentration and degumming agent TF-125A concentration were the process conditions examined. With respect to gum decomposition, fineness and mechanical properties, sodium hydroxide concentration, sodium silicate concentration and treatment time were found to be the most important parameters. An orthogonal L9(34) experiment designed to optimize the conditions for degumming resulted in the selection of the following procedure: sodium hydroxide of 12g/L, sodium silicate of 3g/L, TF-107B of 2g/L, TF-125A of 2g/L, treatment time of 105 min, temperature of 100°C and fiber to liquor ratio of 1:20. The effect of the above degumming process on the removal of impurities was also examined and the results showed that degumming was an effective method for removing impurities, especially hemicellulose.
Compression Properties of Polyester Needlepunched Fabric
Authors: Debnath Sanjoy , Madhusoothanan M.
Published: November 2018

In the present paper, a study of the effects of fabric weight, fiber cross-sectional shapes (round, hollow and trilobal) and presence of reinforcing material on the compression properties (initial thickness, percentage compression, percentage thickness loss and percentage compression resilience) of polyester needle punched industrial nonwoven fabrics is presented. It was found that for fabrics with no reinforcing material, the initial thickness, compression, and thickness loss were higher than fabrics with reinforcing material, irrespective offiber cross-section. Compression resilience data showed the reverse trend. Initial thickness for trilobal cross-sectional fabric sample was highest followed by round and hollow cross-sectioned polyester needle punched fabrics. The polyester fabric made from hollow cross-sectioned fibers showed the least percentage compression at every level of fabric weights. The trilobal cross-sectioned polyester fabric sample showed higher thickness loss followed by round and hollow cross-sectioned polyester fabric samples respectively. The hollow cross-sectioned polyester fabric samples showed maximum compression resilience followed by round and trilobal cross-sectioned polyester samples irrespective of fabric weights. The initial thickness increases, but percentage compression, thickness loss and compression resilience decreases with the increase in fabric weight irrespective of fiber cross-sectional shapes.
Total Wear Comfort Index as an Objective Parameter for Characterization of Overall Wearability of Cotton Fabrics
Authors: Raj Sheela , Sreenivasan S.
Published: November 2018

The state of physical comfort experienced by a wearer under a given environmental condition is greatly influenced by the tactile, thermal and moisture transport properties of the fabric. An in-depth study carried out to understand fabric handle and wear comfort in relation to fiber, yarn and fabric structural parameter is presented in this paper. The results obtained from this study provide an invaluable insight into engineering of required quality features into the cotton fabrics so as to provide optimum wear comfort. A comprehensive grading index incorporating the transport attributes (air permeability and moisture and thermal transport) of the fabric has been derived to grade end use efficiency of the fabric juxtaposing with fabric hand, which would finally decide the overall quality of the apparel fabric.
Study of Inverse Creep in Textile Yarns
Authors: Patil P.G. , Nachane R.P.
Published: November 2018

Creep has been known and studied for textile materials for decades. In comparison, a newly observed phenomenon of inverse creep seems not to have received much attention. A new instrument has been fabricated to measure creep and inverse creep in textile materials particularly yarns. Creep and Inverse creep measurements of nylon multifilament yarn, polyester multifilament yarn, cotton and wool yarn at different levels of stress have been studied using the new instrument and results are reported in the present paper.
Impact of Structural Variations on Pre-Hollow/Micro-Porous Yarn's Tensile and Physical Properties
Authors: Mukhopadhyay Arunangshu , Ishtiaque Saiyed Muzffar , Uttam Devanand
Published: November 2018

In the present study impact of structural variations on pre-hollow/micro-porous yarn's tensile and physical properties were investigated in view of their processing and ultimate product quality. The results show that: the core pre-hollow yarns and doubled pre-hollow yarns possessing continuous polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) filaments are better in tensile behavior than blended pre-hollow yarns which contain discrete PVA staple fibers. The doubled pre-hollow yarns were found to have the lowest unevenness, thick places, thin places and total imperfections followed by blended pre-hollow and core pre-hollow yarns, while blended pre-hollow yarns showed lowest number of neps. The core pre-hollow yarns exhibit lowest hairiness followed by blended pre-hollow yarns and doubled pre-hollow yarns. Use of double roving during spinning is beneficial for improving yarn strength, unevenness imperfections and hairiness in all the pre-hollow yarns.
Evaluation of the Function and Manufacturing Technique of Bamboo Charcoal Complex Yarns and Knitted Fabrics
Authors: Lin Chin Mei , Lin Jia Horng
Published: November 2018

To satisfy the many requirements of our daily life, complex textiles that are both functional and beneficial have been successfully designed and developed. This research investigates the design of bamboo charcoal/spandex (BC/S) complex yarns, fabricated with a blend of spandex and bamboo charcoal polyester textured yarn, which possess superior elastic recovery. The expansion multiples of the spandex was 1.5–3.5, the wrap counts are 2 −4.5 turns/cm, and the speed of the rotor twister was 4000-12000 rpm. When the speed of the rotor twister was between 4000 and 12000 rpm, the expansion multiple was 1.5 and the elastic recovery rate was maintained at 93% or above. Furthermore, the far infrared emissivity of BC/S complex knitted fabric was over 0.9, but descended with the lamination number. The BC/S complex knitted fabric also contained an anion count of 356 anions/cc.
Study the Effect of Test Speed and Fabric Weight on Puncture Behavior of Polyester Needlepunched Nonwoven Geotextiles
Authors: Askari Azadeh Seif , Najar Saeed Shaikhzadeh , Vaghasloo Yoness Alizadeh
Published: November 2018

In this research, the effects of speed and weight on needlepunched nonwoven geotextiles subjected to CBR and Puncture tests were investigated. Polyester nonwoven fabrics with different weights (460, 715, 970 and 1070 g/m2) were prepared. The CBR test (ASTM D 6241) was conducted with five speeds, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 mm/min on geotextile layers, while the Puncture test (ASTM D 4833) was carried out at a standard speed of 300 mm/min on the same fabrics. Based on the load-elongation curves of these two tests, different puncture parameters, including puncture resistance (puncture force at failure), elongation at maximum force and puncture energy, were measured and statistically analyzed using ANOVA and multiple-range test methods.

The results of the CBR tests indicate that the fabric weight significantly influenced the puncture resistance as well as the puncture energy and elongation while speed only affected the fabric puncture resistance and puncture energy.

On the other hand, in the Puncture test, the fabric weight influenced all measured parameters.
Application of Taguchi and Full Factorial Experimental Design to Model the Color Yield of Cotton Fabric Dyed with Six Selected Direct Dyes
Authors: Fazeli Faezeh , Tavanai Hossein , Hamadani Ali Zeinal
Published: November 2018

This paper describes the modeling of the color yield (Fk) of 100% cotton fabric dyed with six selected direct dyes (two from each groups of A, B and C) using Taguchi and factorial experimental designs as well as a response surface regression method. The factors chosen were dye concentration, electrolyte (sodium chloride) concentration, temperature and time of dying. To conduct the tests using the Taguchi approach, two levels were chosen for each factor. After obtaining the data (Fk), the significant factors were determined by an analysis of variance (ANOVA). Then, the level of significant factors was increased from two to three and the supplementary tests were carried out using full factorial design. ANOVA was applied again and, finally, the initial response surface regression model was produced considering the significant factors. After verifying the validity of the initial models, the BOX-COX transformation was implemented until the models achieved validity.
Thermal Properties of Wool Fabrics Treated in Atmospheric Pressure Post-Discharge Plasma Equipment
Authors: Ferri Ada , Rombaldoni Fabio , Mazzuchetti Giorgio , Rovero Giorgio , Sicardi Silvio
Published: November 2018

A plain-weave wool fabric has been treated in a roll-to-roll atmospheric pressure, post-discharge plasma equipment at three fabric speeds. The thermal properties of the treated fabric have been investigated by means of an Alambeta instrument. The thermal resistance and thermal diffusivity increased after the plasma treatment while the thermal absorptivity and volumetric heat capacity decreased. The longer the plasma-to-fabric exposure time, the more marked the change in the fabric's thermal properties. Since thermal conductivity was unaffected after the treatment, the thermal properties changed due to the increase in thickness that was observed after the plasma treatment. A validated model has been used to predict the human psychophysical perception of the fabric hand. As a consequence of the more voluminous structure, a softer and warmer hand has been predicted for the treated fabrics compared to the untreated ones.
An Investigation into the Fatigue Behavior of Core-Spun Yarns under Cyclic Tensile Loading
Authors: Shanbeh Mohsen , Hasani Hossein , Manesh Fatemeh Youseffi
Published: November 2018

In this research, the effects of different production parameters and number of tensile fatigue cyclic loads on the breaking strength of core-spun yarns before and after tensile fatigue cyclic loads were studied using Taguchi's experimental design. A custom-built instrument for evaluating the tensile fatigue of fibrous materials under cyclic loads was used in this study. Based on the Taguchi method 18 samples were manufactured. Polyester and nylon multifilament yarn and three kinds of sheath material, namely, polyester/cotton (80/20), polyester, and viscose fiber were used. Fatigue behavior of core-spun yarns was evaluated after 100, 500 and 1000 cyclic loads. English twist factors (αe) 3.2, 3.5, and 3.8 were applied to core-spun yarns and core pre-tensions of 0, 30, and 60g.were used. Experimental results show a reduction and, in some cases, an increase in breaking strength after cyclic loading. A microtome technique was used to evaluate the cross-section of the yarns. Twist factor was found to be the dominant effect on the fatigue value of core-spun yarns after cyclic loads. The results also show that the ranking of effective parameters on breaking strength vary before and after cyclic loads.
Fabrication and Characterization of Electrospun Pristine and Fluorescent Composite Poly (acrylic acid) Ultra-Fine Fibers
Authors: Atchison Jennifer S. , Schauer Caroline L.
Published: November 2018

Electrospinning is a facile nanofabrication technique that produces fibrous assemblies of ultra-fine fibers, 20–1000 nm in diameter, from a charged droplet of spinning solution. Optimization of the fiber diameter of a specific material system is dependent on the solution and process variables. The electrospinning parameters for poly (acrylic acid) (PAA), a synthetic polyelectrolyte, were systematically investigated and consistent nanofiber diameters with uniform morphology were achieved. The optimization matrix included several solvent systems including ethanol, aqueous NaCl and aqueous NaOH. Optimized spinning parameters were then applied to electrospinning fluorescent fibrous assembles of quantum dot-PAA ultra-fine fiber composites. Ultrafine composite fibers were prepared by electrospinning aqueous solutions of 6wt% PAA loaded with 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20%v/v, carboxylic acid functionalized CdSe/ZnS nanoparticles (SNPs). The resulting composite fibers exhibited uniform fiber morphologies with increasing fiber diameters corresponding to increasing SNP loading. Fluorescence micrographs reveal luminescent fibers with evenly distributed fluorophores in the higher loaded samples. Moreover, laser excited fibers manifest SNP intermittency correlated with small clusters and single SNPs suggesting excellent dispersion in the PAA matrix.
Characteristics of Fiber Suspension Flow in a Turbulent Boundary Layer
Authors: Lin Jianzhong , Shen Suhua , Ku Xiaoke
Published: November 2018

The equations of averaged momentum, turbulence kinetic energy, turbulence dissipation rate with the additional term of the fibers, and the equation of probability distribution function for mean fiber orientation are derived and solved numerically for fiber suspension flowing in a turbulent boundary layer. The mathematical model and numerical code are verified by comparing the numerical results with the experimental ones in a turbulent channel flow. The effects of Reynolds number, fiber concentration and fiber aspect-ratio on the mean velocity profile, turbulent kinetic energy, Reynolds stress, turbulent dissipation rate and eddy viscosity coefficient are analyzed. The results show that the velocity profiles become full, and the turbulent kinetic energy, Reynolds stress and eddy viscosity coefficient increase, while turbulent dissipation rate decreases, as the Reynolds number, fiber concentration and fiber aspect-ratio increase. The effect of the fiber aspect-ratio on the turbulent properties is larger than that of the Reynolds number, but smaller than that of the fiber concentration in the range of parameters considered in this paper.
Development of Cotton Nonwoven Composite Fabric for Toxic Chemical Decontamination and Characterization of its Adsorption Capabilities
Authors: Sata Utkarsh , Wilusz Eugene , Mlynarek Steve , Coimbatore Gopal , Kendall Ronald , Ramkumar Seshadri S.
Published: November 2018

Because of the current threat of toxic chemicals and chemical warfare agents, personal protection is important for soldiers and first responders, as well as the civilian population. This paper describes the development of a cotton non-particulate nonwoven composite fabric and the evaluation of its adsorption capability for protection against toxic chemical ingress which can be harmful or lethal. In addition, this paper focuses on the evaluation of toxic chemical adsorption capabilities of various chemical protective substrates that have the potential to be used in military applications. The development of a three-layered cotton based decontamination wipe and its adsorption of 0.1 % w/v pinacolyl methylphosphonate in butanol, is presented. Adsorption is quantified using a modified gravimetric procedure developed using a thermogravimetric analyzer. The results demonstrate the adsorption performance of a new cotton-based, non-particulate flexible composite that has a high potential to be used as a portable decontamination wipe. This research is unique in the area of individual protection and addresses the requirements of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) for seeking and evaluating highly efficient, non-particulate, and skin-friendly materials that provide necessary chemical protection while minimizing any discomfort or irritation.