• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.633-639
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• 2010

This study was carried out to compare human thermoregulatory responses and preferred air temperature by feet immersion between summer and winter in terms of thermal comfort. Five healthy female university students participated in the study as subjects. They experienced feet immersion at $40^{\circ}C$ of water in the climatic chamber of $24^{\circ}C$, 50%RH from 19:30 to 21:00 in the summer and winter, respectively. Rectal temperature gradually decreased and maintained $0.08^{\circ}C$ lower in winter than summer, while mean skin temperature changed $0.4^{\circ}C$ greater in winter than summer(p=0.00). Air temperature selected by each subject for their thermal comfort revealed $0.8^{\circ}C$ higher in summer than winter(p=0.06). The results obtained suggest an increase in human thermoregulation and be used as preliminary data to maintain optimal indoor temperature in summer and winter.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.589-595
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• 2015

This study examines how exercise habits affect human thermoregulatory responses. A total of 14 healthy male college students participated in this study as subjects: 8 students who exercised regularly (REG) and 6 students who did not (IREG). First, there were no significant differences between REG and IREG in rectal and mean skin temperatures. Second, the general thermal sensation was "slightly warm" at the equilibrium state and "cool" during body cooling in both groups with no significant differences between the two groups. This implies that exercise habits did not affect the subjective thermal sensation under this study's environmental conditions. Third, there were no significant correlations between the preferred temperature and related variables such as rectal and mean skin temperature changes, oxygen uptake, and the general thermal sensation in REG. However, there were significant correlations between the preferred temperature and the mean skin temperature change (p<0.05) and oxygen uptake(p<0.01) in IREG. In sum, these results suggest weak effects of exercise habits on daily life at the individual level. Therefore, future research should verify this study's results under controlled conditions such as cooling intensity and durations.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.657-665
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• 2015

This study evaluated the thermoregulatory properties of functional thermal underwear ('heating underwear') in markets using a thermal manikin and human wear trials. One ordinary thermal underwear (ORD) and two functional thermal underwear (HEAT1 and HEAT2; manufactured goods, HEAT1: moisture absorbing heat release mechanism, HEAT2: heat storage, release mechanism) were chosen. Thermo-physiological and subjective responses were evaluated at an air temperature of $5.0{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$ and air humidity of $30{\pm}5%RH$ with five male subjects ($21.6{\pm}1.3yr$ in age, $178.0{\pm}5.9cm$ in height, $68.2{\pm}5.9kg$ in body mass). Experimental conditions consisted of four ensembles that included winter clothes (Control: no underwear, ORD, HEAT1, HEAT2). Water-vapor resistance was greater in fabric of HEAT1 than others. The results were: 1) Total thermal insulation (IT) using a thermal manikin were not greater for HEAT1 (0.860clo) and HEAT 2 (0.873clo) than for ORD (0.886clo). 2) There were no significant differences in rectal temperature, mean skin temperature, heart rate and total body mass loss between the four conditions. Microclimate clothing temperature on the back was greater for ORD than for HEAT1 and HEAT2. Subjects felt more comfortable with HEAT1 than for others at rest. HEAT2 was higher in microclimate humidity when compared to other conditions. The results suggest that thermoregulatory properties of 'heating underwear' in market did not differ from those of ordinary thermal underwear in terms of total thermal insulation and thermoregulatory responses in a cold environment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.977-987
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• 1997

The present study was designed to see what the local cooling of different body regions especially head and neck, hands and feet effect physiological responses in cold environment. Four male subjects wore garments covering whole body except face and rested for 20 min and then they rested for 40 min with uncovered head, neck, hands and feet, respectively in a cold environment(10$\pm$1$^{\circ}C$, 50$\pm$5%R.H.) 1. Rectal temperature increased when hands and feet were exposed to cold environment respectively, and when head and neck, hands and feet were exposed to cold environment together. 2. Exposed skin temperatures fell in cold environment. And hands temperature was lower than any other exposed skin temperatures. The hands temperature was significantly lower when head was exposed than when head was covered. And the feet temperature were significantly lower when hands were exposed than when hands were covered. 3. Mean skin temperature was the lowest when head and neck, hands and feet were exposed simultaneously, In conclusion, skin temperatures of extremities were decreased due to exposure to the cold environment. Especially upper extremities were lower than lower extremities by exposed parts of the body. It seemed that the extremities played the role of cold receptors but head and neck didn't. And there were large heat losses from the unprotected head and neck. In cold environment of 1$0^{\circ}C$ , thus, it is suggested for the purpose of thermoregulatory responses that head and neck would be covered and extremities would be exposed, especially upper extremities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.149-158
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of age on the human thermoregulatory responses and to obtain the basic information of the Korean thermophysiological characteristics under the traditional Korean floor heating system-Ondol. The participants consisted of 10 elderly women, 4 elderly men(over 65 years), 10 young women and 5 young men(in twenties). They were exposed to temperature-controlled Ondol room(20$\pm$1$^{\circ}C$, 50$\pm$5%R.H., floor surface temperature: 30$\pm$1$^{\circ}C$) for 60 minutes and wore the same experimental clothing. The postures were performed sitting and supine on the floor. In each pose, rectal temperature, skin.temperature of 10 areas, mean skin temperature, clothing microclimate, body fat were measured. The results were as follows; 1. The rectal temperature gradually decreased and mean skin temperature gradually increased in young and old groups in both supine and sitting pose on heated Ondol floor for 60 minutes. 2. Rectal temperature was different in each pose. The rectal temperature decreased 0.1$^{\circ}C$ in both groups under the condition of sitting and decreased 0.2'c in elderly group under the condition of supine. In supine pose, elderly group was more declined than young group. Mean skin temperature increased 0.5$^{\circ}C$ in both poses, both groups.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.415-427
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• 1993

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the thermoregulatory responses to postures under different environmental conditions and to obtain the basal information for standard clothing weight, indoor climates, and working condition. Two adult female (22.5yrs, 46kg) were participated in this study. The experimental conditions were divided into three groups ; 1) comfort($27{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, $60{\pm}10%$), 2) hot($34{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, $60{\pm}10%$), and 3) cold($21{\pm}1^{\circ}C$, $50{\pm}10%$) condition. The postures performed were as follows; standing, sitting on the chair, sitting on the floor, and supine on the floor. At each condition, subjective sensations, 12 points skin temperature, rectal temperature, total and local sweat rate, pulse rates, blood pressure, skin blood flow rate were measured. The results were as follows : 1. Rectal temperature was high significant among groups in order of supine, sitting on the floor, sitting on the chair, standing posture(p<0.01). 2. Skin temperature was high in part of contact with the surface of the floor or wall and the effect of posture was greater in peripheral temperature than torso temperature. Sitting on the chair and sitting on the floor posture showed higher peripheral temperature than standing and supine posture. And peripheral temperature was lower in supine posture than any other postures. 3. Total and local sweat rate were decreased in order of standing, sitting on the chair, sitting on the floor, supine posture. 4. Pulse rate and disastolic blood pressure were higher in standing posture than supine posture, and there was significant difference between two postures(p<0.001). 5. Blood flow rate of thigh was high in sitting on the chair and sitting on the floor posture and low in standing posture. Blood flow rate of leg was low in standing posture significantly(p<0.01). 6. In comfort and hot condition, temperature sensation and comfort sensation were higher in standing posture and lower in supine posture than any other postures. In cold condition, temperature sensation was lower and comfort sensation was higher in standing and supine posture than any other postures. And supine posture was appeared positive in hot condition and negative in cold condition. From this study, we confirmed the effects of posture on human thermoregulatory responses. Results indicate that even under same conditions and clothing weight, the insulation of clothing will be different to postures.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.983-991
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• 1996

This study focusses on how the skirt or slacks wearing habit affects the female physiology in her daily life. The healthy female college students have been trained to wear either skirt (group A) or slacks (group B) from late August to early January in order to study the effects of clothing habit on thermoregulatory responses. Also, the themoregulatory responses have been compared the healthy students groups with a physical trained students group (group C) to examine the effects of clothing habit. The changes in body temperatures of students have been studied under the cool environmental condition (15$\pm$1$^{\circ}C$, 60$\pm$5% RH, 0.25 m/sec). The results were as follows: 1. Rectal temperature of the group A was 0.4$^{\circ}C$ lower at 36.9$^{\circ}C$ than that of the group B The groups A and B were found identical before the training, while the groups A and C were identical after the training. 2. Mean skin temperature of the group A was 1.2$^{\circ}C$ lower than that of the group B. The groups A and C were identical after the training. 3. The thermal sensation was reflected to be cool by the group A and to be cold by the group B. As for the humidity sensation, the group A felt average, whereas the group B reported between average and slightly humid. In the case of comfort sensation, the group A felt average, while the group B felt between average and slightly uncomfortable. In summary, the 18 weeks of training has provided the skirt group an improved acclimatization to the cold environment . This group also showed an insulative-hypothermic adapta lion in a cold ambient temperature, as was the case for the physical trained group. It is concluded that wearing a skirt for a long period of time can be helpful to human body through gaining of thermoregulatory abilities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.342-353
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to evaluate far-infrared clothing (FIR condition) with non-far-infrared clothing (Control condition) to assess the effects of FIR on thermo-physiological responses. Eight young healthy males (23.0±2.3 yr, 176.5±3.7 cm, and 69.0±4.3 kg) participated in this experimental trial, which consisted of a 20 min rest followed by a 40 min walk (4.0 km·hr^-1) and a 20 min recovery at 20℃ with 50%RH. The results showed that finger skin blood flow and mean skin temperature were significantly higher for the FIR condition than the control during exercise and recovery (p<.001). Clothing microclimate temperature of the FIR condition was 0.5℃ higher on the back (p=.001) and 0.4℃ higher on the thigh (p=.015) during recovery. Clothing microclimate relative humidity of the FIR condition was 13% higher on the chest (p=.006) and 19% higher on the back (p<.001) during exercise than control. Subjects felt warmer and more comfortable in the FIR condition than in the control (p<.05). Perceived skin wettedness (%BSA) was less in the FIR condition than in the control (p=.001). These results indicate that ceramic-embedded clothing had significant effects on thermoregulatory responses for light activity in an indoor environment.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.686-695
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• 2020

The present study evaluated the manual dexterity and usability of conductive gloves when operating touchscreen devices in the cold. Twelve male subjects (23.3±1.5 years in age) participated in three experimental conditions: no gloves, fabric conductive and lambskin conductive gloves. Manual dexterity was tested using both Purdue Pegboard (PP) and ASTM dexterity tests at an air temperature of 5℃ and air humidity of 30%RH. Glove usability was tested through the following touchscreen tests: tap, double tap, long tab, drag, flick, and multi-touch. The results showed that manual dexterity according to the PP (2.5 mm of a pin diameter) and ASTM tests (8 mm of a stick diameter) was worse for the two glove conditions than for the no glove condition (p<.005). PP dexterity was better for the fabric glove condition than for the lambskin glove condition (p<.05); however, there was no difference in ASTM dexterity between the two glove conditions. Hand and finger skin temperatures were higher for the glove conditions than the bare hand condition (p<.05), with no differences between the two glove conditions. The touchscreen usability was the best for the no glove condition, followed by fabric gloves (p<.05). Wearing either fabric or lambskin gloves diminishes hand dexterity while maintaining hand and finger temperatures at higher levels. For improved hand dexterity in dealing with small numbers, letters on a touchscreen in cold environments, we recommend wearing fabric conductive gloves rather than lambskin conductive gloves.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.315-320
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• 2005

With regard to the fact that temperature of human body remains almost constant at $37^{\circ}C$, changes by circadian variation, this study intended to investigate the effect of circadian rhythm on physiological responses of human body according to body fat rate. Fifteen healthy adult women were recruited for this study and were measured body fat as a method of bio impedance. We organized subjects into three groups ; low body fat group(group L-less than 20% of body fat), medium body fat group(group M-20%~30% of body fat) and high body fat group(group H-more than 30% of body fat). The experiment was carried out in a climate chamber of $32^{\circ}C$, 60% RH with the repeat of 'Exercise' and 'Rest' period. Subjects participated in two experiments, one is morning experiment(called 'AM'), the other is afternoon experiment (called 'PM'). The results of this study are as follows ; As to the variation of rectal temperature, group L and M had a significant difference in the time of the day between AM and PM, but group H had almost the same rectal temperature in the two kinds of experimental time. The reason why group H had a smaller difference in the circadian rhythm of rectal temperature in this study is estimated at the Budd et al.(1991)'s results that body fat had effects on reduction in thermogenesis, radiation, mean skin temperature, and increase in insulation of the tissues. Group M had the highest mean skin temperature in the 'PM'. All the 3 groups didn't have stable values in 'AM'. But it showed more stable in 'PM' than 'AM'. Sweat rate was the highest in group H in both 'AM' and 'PM'. Group M had larger sweat rate in 'PM' than 'AM'. but in group L and H, sweat rate was almost the same in two kinds of time of the day. This result suggests that who have more or less body fat have larger difference in sweat rate between morning and afternoon than who have normal body fat.