A Wearable Heating System with a Controllable e-Textile- Based Thermal Panel

Flexible textile heating systems present great advantage due to their ability to bend and hence could ensure uniform heating for irregular geometries. In cooler outer environment, the user requires his/her body to be kept warm for monitoring vital body functions within realistic thermal body balance constraints. In this chapter, heated vest with controllable e-textile-based thermal panel has been studied. Several e-textile-based thermal panels with different conductive yarns were produced using hot air welding technology under different manufacturing parameters. E-textile-based thermal panels were tested for their heating behaviors at varying direct current (DC) power levels. Based on the experimental results, the optimum e-textile-based thermal panel design was chosen considering its flexibility and uniform heating behavior. Moreover, a control algorithm with electrical circuit and electrical connection network was designed and assembled in an electronic control module. Finally, the electronic module consisting of power control and management system was integrated to attachable e-textile-based thermal panel in order to form a wearable heating vest

Sustainable collection development towards greener future: Earthsavers

Nowadays, environmental awareness is more important not to damage the living environment. Sources of the Earth have been decreasing day by day due to many natural and human-induced reasons such as global warming, waste disposal, urbanization, deforestation, etc. Harm of the textile sector on the environment is high and it needs control and awareness. Raw material production, raw material selection, water usage amount, sustainability of processes, refining of wastes, recycle and reuse strategies of textile companies have a very significant effect on the environment. With this awareness, sustainable fashion is created because customer behaviors affect both design and production. In this view, all ingredients and processes turn to the most sustainable forms as much as possible. While being environmentally friendly, required performances of garments should be met to prepare the required end product. In this study, a sustainable collection whose name is Earthsavers is prepared by using recycled raw materials, natural dyestuffs, etc. Their physical and chemical performances are tested. Results of the collection are suitable for acceptance levels and it shows that a collection can be prepared with minimum harm to the environment with at least the same performances as conventional alternatives

Modeling of surface temperature distributions on powered e-textile structures using an artificial neural network

An artificial neural network (ANN) model is constructed to derive the surface temperature of e-textile structures developed for cold weather clothing. A series of textile transmission lines made of different types of conductive yarns, insulated by using different types of seam tapes, were enclosed in a thermoplastic textile structure via hot air welding technology, and then they were powered with different levels of specific voltages in order to obtain different heating levels. The surface temperatures of the powered e-textile structures were measured using a thermal camera. The experimental input variables, sample type, temperature, feeding speed, resistance of samples, applied voltage and current were used to construct an ANN model and the outputs of surface temperature and electric power dissipated were used to test the prediction performance of the developed model. It was concluded that the ANN provided substantial predictive performance. Simulations based on the developed ANN model can estimate the surface temperature distributions of powered e-textile structures under different conditions. The ANN model developed for prediction of electric power dissipated was very successful and can be useful for e-textile product designers as well as textile manufacturers, particularly for cold weather protection products such as jackets, gloves and outdoor sleeping mats

EFFECT OF DIGITIZING TECHNIQUES ON THE FIT OF IMPLANT-RETAINED CROWNS WITH DIFFERENT ANTI ROTATIONAL ABUTMENT FEATURES

AKCA, KIVANC/0000-0003-3013-2533; ozcan, nihal/0000-0003-2022-6085WOS: 000335538900004PubMed: 24360015Statement of problem. The development of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing technology has enabled the fabrication of implant-retained restorations. However, information on the marginal and axial accuracy of restorations fabricated by different digitizing techniques with different antirotational abutment features is not sufficient. Purpose. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the influence of digitizing techniques on the fit of implant-retained crowns with 2 antirotational features. Material and Methods. An experimental working cast housing a tissue-level dental implant was created. Resin-retained abutments with different antirotational features were connected to the implant. Optical impressions of 2 abutment types were obtained separately with 1 chairside and 2 laboratory approaches. Alumina silicate restorations were milled from chairside optical impressions, and ceramic oxide cores were milled from laboratory optical impressions. Restoration fit was evaluated from axial sections of restorations with silicone materials representing the marginal and axial gaps. Axial and marginal fits were measured on digital photographs of the sectioned specimens with a computer program. Two-way ANOVA was used to compare differences between abutments with 2 different antirotational features and digitizing techniques separately for the marginal and axial fits of single implant-retained crowns. A post hoc least significant difference test was used to compare digitizing techniques (alpha=.05). Results. Significant differences in the marginal fit of single-implant-retained crowns were found among digitizing techniques (P=.011) and between antirotational features (P<.001). No significant difference in the axial fit of single-implant-retained crowns was found among digitizing techniques (P=.905) or between antirotational features (P=.075). Conclusions. Within the limitations of this in vitro study, the marginal fit of single-implant-retained crowns was affected by antirotational abutment features. Furthermore, digitizing techniques were found to play an important role in the marginal fit of single-implant-retained restorations

Use of bacterial binder in repair mortar for micro-crack remediation

Micro-cracks are one of the types of stone deterioration which can propagate and lead to surface detachments and larger cracks in the long run. The present study developed a sustainable and environmentally friendly infill material—biological mortar (BM), as an alternative to conventional approaches. Using a biomineralization approach, this BM was explicitly designed for healing micro-cracks (less than 2 mm) in historic travertines. To this end, the mortar was prepared using a calcifyingBacillussp. isolated from thermal spring water resources in Pamukkale Travertines (Denizli), stone powder gathered from travertine quarries in the vicinity, and a triggering solution specifically designed to set off calcium carbon- ate precipitation reaction. After setup, BM was applied to micro-cracks of artificially aged test stones for testing. Scanning electron microscopy revealed calcium carbonate-coatedBacillussp. bodies in the BM matrix, optical microscopy showed secondary calcite minerals throughout the BM applied micro-cracks, and stereomicroscopy and nanoindentation analyses demonstrated bonding of BM with stone due to microbial calcification activities. Furthermore, BM and original material contact showed a continuous and coherent structure in all samples. Within this context, BM could be considered a promising and alternative approach for the remediation of micro-cracks of historic stones

Ultrasound-defined remission for good functional status in rheumatoid arthritis

Background & objectives: It has been shown that joint damage due to subclinical synovitis progresses despite apparent clinical remission in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Hence, finding more objective methods to investigate subclinical synovitis has become a current issue. Ultrasonography (US) has been among the most investigated methods. This study was conducted to detect whether there was subclinical inflammation in RA patients in clinical remission by power Doppler ultrasonography (PDUS) and to evaluate the effects of this inflammation on upper extremity function. Methods: Forty five RA patients fulfilled the remission criteria of disease activity score 28 using erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR), were enrolled in the study. Bilateral wrist, 2nd and 3th metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints and 2nd and 5th metatarsophalangeal joints were examined by PDUS. Upper extremity function was assessed with Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ) and handgrip strength. The pain was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS). Results: In 29 of 45 RA patients in clinical remission, synovitis was detected by PDUS at least in one joint. VAS and DAS28-ESR scores were significantly lower and total MHQ, some subgroup scores of MHQ (overall hand function, activity of daily living and work performance) and grip strength of the dominant hand were higher in patients with PD signal negativity. Interpretation & conclusions: PDUS showed a crucial role in determining the subclinical synovitis. Subclinical synovitis negatively affects the upper extremity function. Ultrasound-defined remission may be considered for good functional status and real remission in patients with RA

Sustainable collection development towards greener future: Earthsavers

Nowadays, environmental awareness is more important not to damage the living environment. Sources of the Earth have been decreasing day by day due to many natural and human-induced reasons such as global warming, waste disposal, urbanization, deforestation, etc. Harm of the textile sector on the environment is high and it needs control and awareness. Raw material production, raw material selection, water usage amount, sustainability of processes, refining of wastes, recycle and reuse strategies of textile companies have a very significant effect on the environment. With this awareness, sustainable fashion is created because customer behaviors affect both design and production. In this view, all ingredients and processes turn to the most sustainable forms as much as possible. While being environmentally friendly, required performances of garments should be met to prepare the required end product. In this study, a sustainable collection whose name is Earthsavers is prepared by using recycled raw materials, natural dyestuffs, etc. Their physical and chemical performances are tested. Results of the collection are suitable for acceptance levels and it shows that a collection can be prepared with minimum harm to the environment with at least the same performances as conventional alternatives

Nuchal cord: is it really the silent risk of pregnancy?

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between entanglement of umbilical cord around the fetal neck and adverse perinatal outcomes.Methods: In this prospective cohort study, perinatal outcomes of 218 pregnancies complicated with nuchal cord (NC) (study group) were compared with 190 uncomplicated pregnancies (control group). Main outcome measures were umbilical cord pH values, APGAR scores and cesarean section (C/S) rates. Fetal distress was stated as an abnormal heart rate pattern on electronic fetal heart monitorization.Results: There were no statistically significant differences in maternal demographic and obstetric features, between groups. There were no statistically significant differences regarding C/S rates between groups, even though fetal distress was significantly the leading indication for cesarean delivery, in the study group (p=0.021). The number of entanglement was significantly related with fetal distress (p<0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in umbilical cord gas values, one-minute and five-minute APGAR scores between the groups. Furthermore, there was a significant male dominance in the study group (p=0.014) and also, amniotic fluid indexes (AFI) were significantly higher in this group (p=0.002).Conclusion: This study demonstrated that, entanglement of umbilical cord around the fetal neck or NC is not related with adverse perinatal outcomes such as acidosis and low APGAR scores. So that, a targeted care on NC via ultrasound during labor, is not an essential part of the examination