The purpose of this study was to develop an environment-friendly finishing process for coloring and functionalizing fabrics using the extracts from aronia fruit (AF) and/or aronia…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to develop an environment-friendly finishing process for coloring and functionalizing fabrics using the extracts from aronia fruit (AF) and/or aronia leaf (AL).
Design/methodology/approach
Coloring and functional compounds were extracted from both AF and AL to prepare dyeing and finishing agents for textiles. The bioactive compounds were identified, and their concentrations were determined by spectrophotometry and high-performance liquid chromatography. The extracts were then used to dye and finish natural fibers. The cotton and wool fabrics treated with AF, AL and a combination of AF + AL extracts were investigated in terms of coloring properties and functionalities, specifically antioxidant capacity and antibacterial property.
Findings
According to the obtained results, AF extracts contained significant amounts of anthocyanins and phenols while AL extracts contained higher amounts of phenols with very low levels of anthocyanins. It was successfully demonstrated that the AF and AL extracts can be used to dye fabrics with good color properties. Moreover, textiles treated with aronia extracts inhibited the growth of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria and exhibited antioxidant properties.
Originality/value
AF extract showed superior coloring and functional properties compared to AL extract. However, the treatment solution containing both AF and AL extracts demonstrated significant synergic effects on the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of the treated fabrics.
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The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the center of pressure (COP) changes depending on the type and wearing method of baby carriers, which is fundamental research for…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the center of pressure (COP) changes depending on the type and wearing method of baby carriers, which is fundamental research for the development of smart baby carriers. In addition, the most comfortable and least burdensome type and method of wearing baby carriers is suggested.
Design/methodology/approach
The COP and muscle fatigue were measured depending on the three types and wearing method of baby carriers. And then, the subjective stability, comfort, and fatigue were analyzed.
Findings
The results of this study show that horizontal changes to the COP are greater and when baby carriers are worn loosely, subjective comfort is worse. Furthermore, when the shoulder straps are worn loosely, the center of mass moves downwards, lowering the muscle fatigue of the shoulders, but greatly raising the muscle fatigue of the waist and thighs. Comparison of the shapes of baby carriers showed that X-type produced greater muscle fatigue in the shoulders, waist, and thighs, as well as greater subjective fatigue in the shoulders. However, subjective fatigue in the waist decreases when baby carriers without waist support are worn.
Originality/value
It is expected that changes in COP values based on the type and method of wearing baby carriers will be applied as fundamental data for the development of automatic-adjusting smart baby carriers that prevent muscular pain and concentrated pressure.
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Sun Hee Moon, Kyung Hwa Hong, Jaewoong Lee and In Hwan Sul
The purpose of this paper is to provide an efficient tool for simulating electrospinning process in virtual 3D space and optimizing experimental parameters. The fiber orientation…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide an efficient tool for simulating electrospinning process in virtual 3D space and optimizing experimental parameters. The fiber orientation from virtual or real electrospinning process can be easily measured using the image analysis technique. Using the semi-implicit Euler integration, the time integration can be more fast and stable, which enabled optimization of the electrospinning process. Also boundary conditions can be easily adopted during conjugate gradient matrix solving step.
Design/methodology/approach
To simulate the electrospinning process, the authors have adopted a particle-based modeling technique using the molecular dynamics theory, which is known to be suitable for modeling materials with nonlinear and nonhomogeneous behavior such as fibers or fabrics. Gravitational, tensional, and electrostatical forces and their Jacobians were carefully defined and chosen to maintain the stability of the governing equation. Preconditioned conjugate gradient method was used to solve the matrix iteratively with boundary conditions. The 2-D metaball fitting technique, which was applied in the previous research (Sul et al., 2009) on experimental nanofiber scanning electron microscopy images, was utilized with virtual nanofiber images. A staircase function and a new shading language were proposed to automatically calculate the orientation and radius distribution of the graphically simulated electrospun fiber structures. The automatic measurement procedure was verified via graphically designed virtual replica images. Also the orientation tendency acquired from the simulation was compared with that of experimental data.
Findings
Simulation result of fiber orientation showed linear relationship with the collecting drum speed. Use of particle-based method generated a simple system to simulate electrospinning process.
Originality/value
The semi-implicit Euler integration was applied to the electrospinning process and the final linear system was numerically stable to solve.
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Joseph Lai, Kung-Jen Tu, Jonathan K.M. Lian and Jun Ha Kim
This paper aims to reveal and compare the characteristics of the facilities management (FM) education programs in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea (i.e. the Four Asian…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to reveal and compare the characteristics of the facilities management (FM) education programs in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea (i.e. the Four Asian Dragons) and makes suggestions for their future development.
Design/methodology/approach
A team consisting of academics from the Four Asian Dragons held a face-to-face meeting to discuss and define the scope and framework of the review, followed by an extensive search to identify literature and information germane to the study. Individual parts of reviews, prepared by the team members for their respective places, were cross-reviewed before refinement and consolidation into the current paper.
Findings
The term “facility (or facilities) management” appears in most of the programs reviewed, but terms such as “environment” and “property” also appear in some programs’ titles. The programs reviewed range from certificate level to doctorate level; those between diploma level and master level are more common. Most of the programs have obtained professional accreditations, but some are accredited by FM-related rather than FM-specific professional bodies.
Research limitations/implications
Further research should investigate issues such as the performance of the programs reviewed, extent to which they have met the market needs and how they compare with the counterparts in other regions (e.g. Europe, America). For such research, the process of the study reported here and its findings about the status quo of the programs can serve as references.
Practical implications
To strengthen FM as a well-established discipline, it is imperative to have the programs accredited by FM-specific professional bodies.
Originality/value
Providing the first-ever international review on the major FM programs in Asia, this paper is useful to program planners, educators and researchers in the FM field.
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Leo Yat Ming Sin and Suk‐ching Ho
Looks at consumer research in Greater China including Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Maps out the contributions within this area and guides future research. Examines the…
Abstract
Looks at consumer research in Greater China including Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Maps out the contributions within this area and guides future research. Examines the state of the art over the 1979‐97 period, with particular emphasis on the topics that have been researched, the extent of the theory development in the field and the methodologies used in conducting research. Uses content analysis to review 75 relevant articles. Suggests that, while a considerable breadth of topics have been researched, there remains much to be done, there is further room for theoretical development in Chinese consumer behaviour studies; and the methodologies used need improvement and further refinement.
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Minwoo Lee, Kawon Kim, Kyung Young Lee and Jung Hwa Hong
Examines the fifteenth published year of the ITCRR. Runs the whole gamut of textile innovation, research and testing, some of which investigates hitherto untouched aspects…
Abstract
Examines the fifteenth published year of the ITCRR. Runs the whole gamut of textile innovation, research and testing, some of which investigates hitherto untouched aspects. Subjects discussed include cotton fabric processing, asbestos substitutes, textile adjuncts to cardiovascular surgery, wet textile processes, hand evaluation, nanotechnology, thermoplastic composites, robotic ironing, protective clothing (agricultural and industrial), ecological aspects of fibre properties – to name but a few! There would appear to be no limit to the future potential for textile applications.
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Examines work investigating the impact of the crisis on social welfare policies two Asian countries — Hong Kong and Korea, and argues that these two states were not prepared for…
Abstract
Examines work investigating the impact of the crisis on social welfare policies two Asian countries — Hong Kong and Korea, and argues that these two states were not prepared for the crisis. States that Hong Kong is adopting a neoliberal approach to social welfare, contrasting this with Korea taking unprecedented steps to restructure the social security system, after its economy nearly collapsed, taking a more developmental approach to social policy. Posits that only time will tell whether Korea’s momentum of change can be sustained, while in Hong Kong social security policy will still be dictated by a neoliberal agenda in the near future.