• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.95-102
• /
• 1989

This study was performed to study the efficiency of a local ventilation system, installed in dental laboratories, and of two types of protecting face masks. The dust originating from the workpiece as well as from the wheels and stones was collected on air filters in the cutting cycle during coarse and fine grinding, and in the subsequent polishing procedures of each specific dental material. The efficiency of the ventilation system was measured on the basis of weight reduction of dust in the breathing air at a distance about 20-40 cm from workpiece. The results were as follows: 1. Use of the local ventilation system reduced the amounts of respirable dust to an average level of 21.4%, although the efficiency of the local ventilation system varied depending upon materials used. 2. Mounting a nozzle on the tube improved the efficiency of the ventilation system considerably. The efficiency of the local ventilation system also increased as the workpiece was closing to the tube inlet. 3. With or without the local ventilation system, the distance between the position of the workpiece and sampler greatly affected the dust level. 4. The face masks covering the sampler improved the efficiency of the ventilation system considerably.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.271-286
• /
• 2023

The global COVID-19 pandemic has transformed face masks from situational accessories to indispensable items in daily life, prompting a shift in public perception and behavior. While the relaxation of mandatory mask-wearing regulations is underway, a significant number of individuals continue to embrace face masks, turning them into a form of personal expression and identity. This phenomenon has given rise to the Fashion Mask industry, characterized by unique designs and colors, experiencing rapid growth in the market. However, existing research on masks is predominantly focused on their efficacy in preventing infection or exploring attitudes during the pandemic, leaving a gap in understanding consumer preferences for mask design. We address this gap by investigating consumer perceptions and preferences for two prevalent mask designs-horizontal fold flat masks and vertical fold flat masks. Through a comprehensive approach involving surveys and eye-tracking experiments, we aim to unravel the subtle differences in how consumers perceive these designs. Our research questions focus on determining which design is more appealing and exploring the reasons behind any observed differences. The study's findings reveal a clear preference for vertical fold flat masks, which are not only preferred but also perceived as unique, sophisticated, three-dimensional, and lively. The eye-tracking analysis provides insights into the visual attention patterns associated with mask designs, highlighting the pivotal role of the fold line in influencing these patterns. This research contributes to the evolving understanding of masks as a fashion statement and provides valuable insights for manufacturers and marketers in the Fashion Mask industry. The results have implications beyond the pandemic, emphasizing the importance of design elements in sustaining consumer interest in face masks.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.114-130
• /
• 2016

This research provides practical data to develop UV protection masks and dust protection masks. It surveyed uncomfortable factors and significant characteristics for masks. It used 653 subjects 20-79 years old and performed the research from April to May in 2014. Wearing masks at outdoor activities is not widely popular yet, but golf players, mountaineers and old people were quite interested in masks. People mainly wore a basic shape mask, but main age group of each mask shape was different. People usually prioritized the protection function and comfort of wearing over design; however, women, young generation and people attending to outdoor activities longer than 1 hour considered design quite important. People going on picnic or camping consider mask characteristics most important. Therefore, various mask shapes and protective functions should be developed to reflect consumer needs. Meanwhile, the discomfort levels of masks were not too high, but old people felt more discomfort than young people. The most discomfort factors were 'other's eye', 'distracting face movement' and 'feeling of foreign object'. They also mentioned falling problem of C shape mask and short-rib shape mask, and asked for a 'tighter fit' at the ear.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
• /
• v.14 no.5
• /
• pp.31-39
• /
• 2023

Purpose: As SARS-CoV-2, which was the main cause of the global pandemic, has repeatedly mutated in various forms, the threat of the virus has decreased considerably, and the spread has also subsided. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the change in the role of masks and sustainable mask consumption according to the change in perception of wearing masks during the pandemic. Research design, data and methodology: This study used a descriptive review method as a literature review, and utilized the literature search method in PubMed, Riss, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. Among them, a total of 46 papers were selected in the final stage. Results: As a result, it can be seen that during the pandemic, masks changed their roles according to social trends as their perceptions changed from general perceptions of protecting from external environments or diseases to fashion items with quarantine functions. Conclusions: Masks will be continuously consumed as one of the fashion items with the function of quarantine that protects the respiratory tract from the external environment that is indispensable in our daily lives. Therefore, measures should be taken on sustainable consumption measures according to consumer demand for disposable masks.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.82-91
• /
• 2023

The children who are part of this study are compelled to wear masks at educational facilities for an extended period of time as they continue to be exposed to Asian dust, fine dust, and COVID-19. However, use of masks is currently causing them a lot of inconvenience. This study aimed to gather basic data for the development of a mask that is suitable and comfortable for children to wear. A total of 331 children aged 1 to 9 were investigated through their parents in terms of their lifestyle, mask wearing and purchasing status, mask preferences, mask inconvenience, and mask improvement. According to the survey on mask use, the proportion of children aged 1-3 years old and wearing ultra-small/XS masks, 4-6 year olds wearing small/S, and 7-9 year olds wearing small/S was the highest. More than 80% of children were wearing masks with a standard filter of KF80 or higher. The purchase criteria for children's masks were found to be excellent in terms of wearing comfort and meeting the filter standards. According to the survey on inconvenience of wearing masks, the majority of those surveyed expressed the need to develop children's masks of different sizes. Furthermore, they experienced various kinds of inconveniences from adult masks, such as the material quality and length of earring bands; it was deduced that these aspects need to be taken care of. The vertical folding type was the most popular in the mask design for children. Children have to wear masks for a prolonged period of time, but they are experiencing lot of inconvenience, which need to be addressed.

• Particle and aerosol research
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.191-202
• /
• 2019

In this study, performance (particle removal efficiency and breathing resistance) of several commercially available face masks (electrostatic filter masks (KF80 certified), a nanofiber filter mask (KF80 certified), and an uncertified mask) with their filter structure and composition were evaluated. Also, effects of relative humidity (RH) of incoming air, water and alcohol exposure, and reusability on performance of face masks were examined. Monodisperse and polydisperse sodium chloride particles were used as test aerosols. Except the uncertified mask filter, PM_2.5 removal efficiency was found to be higher than 90%, and the nanofiber filter mask had the highest quality factor due to the low pressure drop and high removal efficiency (nanofibers were arranged in a densely packed pore structure and contained a significant amount of fluorine in addition to carbon and oxygen). In the case of the KF80 certified mask, the removal efficiency was little affected when the RH of incoming air increased. When the mask filters were soaked in water, the removal efficiency of mask filters was degraded. In particular, the uncertified mask filter showed the highest removal efficiency degradation (26%). When the mask was soaked in alcohol, the removal efficiency also decreased with the greater degree than the water soaking case. The nanofiber mask filter showed the strongest resistance to alcohol exposure among tested mask filters. During evaluation of reusability of masks in real life, the removal efficiency of certified mask filter was less than 4% for 5 consecutive days (2 hours per day), while the removal efficiency of uncertified mask filter significantly decreased by 30% after 5 days.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.317-321
• /
• 2022

Due to COVID-19 pandemic, wearing face masks is obligatory to prevent respiratory virus transmissions in the community. However, there are few studies of the desirable number of wearing a face mask, and how to store them for reuse. Therefore, in this study, a survey was conducted among 208 healthy adults, and 27 kf-94 masks worn for 1, 2, and 3 days were collected. To estimate the risk of bacterial contamination, we analyzed the extent of bacterial contamination of the BHI medium and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. With an increase in the number of days of using the mask, the degree of bacterial contamination of the used mask gradually increased. As a result of 16S rRNA PCR performed for strain identification, Staphylococcus, known as a pathogenic bacterium, was identified the most. In conclusion, we found that wearing a cotton KF mask provides an optimal environment for microbes, which are related to the skin and respiratory system, to thrive. Therefore, it is also important to reduce the risk of bacterial infection of the face mask with appropriate sterilization methods.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SP
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2004

This paper proposes a new method for facial feature extraction, and the method could be used to normalize face images for 3D face recognition. 3D images are much less sensitive than intensity images at a source of illumination, so it is possible to recognize people individually. But input face images may have variable poses such as rotating, Panning, and tilting. If these variances ire not considered, incorrect features could be extracted. And then, face recognition system result in bad matching. So it is necessary to normalize an input image in size and orientation. It is general to use geometrical facial features such as nose, eyes, and mouth in face image normalization steps. In particular, nose is the most prominent feature in 3D face image. So this paper describes a nose feature extraction method using 3D nasal masks that are similar to real nasal shape.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.237-246
• /
• 2005

In this study, researcher intended to extract the major factors of makeup design from Yangju-beolsandaenori-tal(masks) and Songpa-sandaenori-tal which have been handed down to the present among many kinds of the Korean folk masks, and to apply those factors to the modernization of traditional culture in terms of makeup design. The 17 Sandaenori-tals exhibited at 'The special exhibition of the Korean folk masks' in 1981 by the national folk museum of Korea were selected as the objects of this research. The formational analysis in terms of shape, color and material was conducted. The 5 factors of this analysis are as follows; face and hair, forehead, eye and eyebrows, mouth and nose. The beauty expressed in Sandaenori-tal includes naturalness, eccentricity and good-humor. The human feelings are expressed candidly and simply through naturalness. The eccentricity in Sandaenori-tal overemphasizes the shape of mask unsymmetrically. And it is expressed ghostliy in black, white and red colors. The good-humors in aesthetic viewpoint was expressed in surprised faces and innocent smile. Researcher applies the good humour to the art makeup in strong natural colors and shapes.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.406-414
• /
• 2021

This study aimed to evaluate the inhalation resistance(IR) and fiber structure of disposable masks when exposed to repeated heating and ultraviolet(UV) sterilization. The experiments consisted of a lab-scale and a field test. For the lab-scale test, KF94 and N95 masks were selected and a trial was composed of three repetitions of an 80-min sterilization. For the field test, a subject participated over four days, of which a KF94 was worn without sterilization, and the same trial was conducted during the next four days with daily sterilization. The results showed that the IR of the KF94 mask(9.5 Pa) gradually increased according to the sterilization up to the second repetition(15.6 Pa) but decreased at the third treatment(9.7 Pa). However, the N95 mask did not showany tendency of IR during the repetitions. Microscope photos showed several warped or blackened fibers in the stiffener layer after the repeated sterilization. After wearing a KF94 mask for four consecutive days, its IR decreased until the three days but increased the fourth day, whereas another KF94 mask with sterilization showed an increase in IR for the four days. In the microscope-photos after the consecutive four days, outside fibers and stiffener layers were warped or became less dense. In summary, the IR of the KF94 mask slightly increased through the three~four rounds of heating and UV sterilizations, but the fiber structures were not significantly deformed by the repeated sterilization. To reduce discarded mask waste, the repeated sterilization of masks can be recommended.