Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

See attached

Objective 1: Develop and evaluate new textiles and materials systems and processes " New York prepared TiO2/PAN fibers in less than 1 mm and used the photocatalytic properties of fibers containing TiO2 nanoparticles as a self decontaminating material in degradation of the pesticide aldicarb as the model toxin. Self-decontaminating systems were developed using polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/metal oxide composite fibers. HPLC, SEM and TEM were used to investigate the decontamination activities and other characteristics of the PAN/metal oxide nanowebs. Self-decontaminating properties of the fibers containing nanoparticles of MgO and TiO2 were confirmed. Funding support for this project was obtained from the National Textile Center and the College of Human Ecology at Cornell. " Good progress was made with respect to biocidal halamine polypropylene fibers in both pilot production and lab scale experiments of new structures at UCD. UCD also developed one new monomer that can bring very powerful halamine biocidal functions to polypropylene. Both polypropylene and polyester can be utilized in chemical and biological protective clothing materials. Using a combination of the two processes we successfully produced nano/submicro-sized fibers containing biocidal halamine structures. " UCD conducted a study on using certain dyes as photo-induced functional agents on textiles and polymers. The results proved that some natural dyes could provide photo-active functions and some anthraquinone acids dyes could generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) under UVA light. These ROSs could serve antimicrobial and self-detoxification functions. This is a promising green technology that can be applied in protective clothing and devices. " The research on halamine nanofibers at UCD has drawn funding from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency of DOD regarding the use of these nanofibers in chemical/biological protective clothing. " HI continued research to explore new textiles and materials collaborating with the Department of Textile Engineering at the Chinese Culture University in Taiwan. Phase changing material (PCM) and microencapsulated phase change material (MPCM) were being researched, tested and analyzed to determine possible use in turnout gear and other personal protective clothing. " OK continued to produce nanofibers with selected individual and combined PCMs using a base fabric, a polyester fabric, conductive yarn, and the selected PCMs. Additional samples were created and were subjected to characterization through SEM, TEM, and air permeability. Objective 2: Design and evaluate garment systems and processes " MN completed an experimental analysis of the impact of garment ease on the performance of an integrated bend sensor for knee goniometry and the development of a method and protocol for measuring movement of garments over a moving body is in process. Test garments in 5 weights of denim in 5 custom-graded sizes each have been developed and constructed. Movement data has been captured from these garments and is currently being processed to analyze the impact of textile weight and stiffness on garment movement. " MN initiated a collaboration with Virginia Tech to develop a virtual design environment to assist designers in investigating the impact of design choices on garment-integrated sensor performance. Test application for this research is a collaboration with Globe Firesuits on the development of bio-sensing firefighter turnout gear. " MD worked with Safe Use Initiative (SUI) to evaluate the performance of garments with repellent finish used in Portugal, Greece and Poland. The questionnaire developed jointly with SUI and the drop tests were used for the study. The garments were analyzed and used as the basis for designing a more extensive study to be conducted next year. " NY and MD together conducted a wear study to determine the performance of garments with a repellent fabric. The findings were used to develop a simple test to serve as end of life indicator for garments with repellent finish. " Investigation of the usefulness of virtual fit programs for collection of fit data for development of new sizing systems for PPE is underway at NY. Methods have been developed for creation of a virtual model from a 3D scan that can be used in conjunction with the Optitex program for 3D design. Testing will be conducted by creating virtual models of garments using these materials, and then actual garments, and comparing the results. " Coverall design: NY continues to work on testing the new coverall design that was developed with the goal of maximizing movement without sacrificing comfort or protection, and minimizing the overall silhouette to reduce the incidence of tears from catching on equipment or orchard tree branches. Sizes were developed based on SizeUSA data in collaboration with MO, and patterns were graded. Sets of coveralls of the new design have been manufactured in 6 sizes ranging from Small to XXX Large in two different fabrics, Kleenguard and ProShield (a DuPont product). Two sets of commercial coveralls are being acquired for comparative testing, one the standard design used most commonly, and an innovative commercial design that also helps accommodate movement. Protocols have been developed for fit testing (using the 3D body scanner) and for field-testing. External support for this project was provided from KleenGuard, a manufacturer of disposable fabrics and of protective coveralls. " Hood design for firefighters: An innovative design for a new type of firefighter hood that incorporates impact protection, thereby replacing the hood and helmet combination was developed by a student design team at NY. This design incorporates layers of the Dow Corning impact material Active Protection System, TP3-001 and TP3-002, and S5-004. " Wildland firefighter project: UCD working in collaboration with CAL FIRE focused on evaluating a single-layer clothing system and a double-layer clothing system under four different heat flux conditions. The two-layer system was more protective at all four heat levels but the difference decreased as the heat flux increased. " Medical textiles project: UCD did additional analyses of data from nationwide surveys of operating room nurses and doctors using the critical incident technique. The study indicated that while strike through was a major problem for both surgical gowns and drapes, a number of other factors such as fit and durability should also be considered by product developers and purchasing agents. User needs analysis I: Scan study of FF turnout gear design in active positions " Data from a study of firefighter turnout gear at NY have been analyzed. Problems in the fit and function of the gear were investigated as case studies, with three active firefighters. Results highlight firefighter concerns about the weight of the gear and overheating when wearing it for most calls (for which they are over-protected), issues with attachment of (and movement issues related to) equipment in pockets and hung off the PPE, and compression burns. Videotapes for the 3 firefighters donning 6 different uniform styles were analyzed: donning issues were suit specific and included problems with visibility of fasteners such as zippers, issues with overlaps that were not wide enough to grasp and fasten easily, and overall close fit. Fit analysis of the 3D scan data in the different suit styles were firefighter specific, and were not consistent for individual styles. " MO completed an anthropometric body scan study of 100 fire fighters. Anthropometric data from the scans was compared to SizeUSA data. The study showed that the participant group was taller and heavier than the average male compared to the entire SizeUSA sample. " IA completed an analysis of 3D body scan data of 10 firefighters with their gear in two different positions (standing, squatting) to analyze pant fit. Total of 40 scans were used for the analyses. An evaluation of the pant fit was made by comparison of objective three-dimensional (3D) visual fit data (measures between the body and garment taken from cross sections at the knee, thigh, and crotch levels) and subjective survey items related to fit, mobility, and comfort level. Dissatisfaction with pant fit increased when pant ease amounts decreased, indicating that greater pant ease amounts are more likely to lead to higher satisfaction for fit and mobility. Body shape and apparel fit factors also affected mobility. User needs analysis II: Focus group study of firefighters " One additional focus group interview was conducted of 6 female firefighters to add to the focus group data collected by IA, MO, NY, and HI. " Further analysis of male and female firefighter focus group data was conducted. The following common issues were identified regarding the fit, function, and design for current firefighter gear: weight and breathability of coats and pants, poor fit of pants resulting in restricted mobility (e.g., crotch and waist), and pocket size and location problems. Firefighters also commented that their gloves and boots negatively impact their ability to accomplish certain tasks and movements. Overall, female firefighters expressed that turnout gear significantly limited their performance. The bulkiness and weight of the turnout gear made it difficult to use tools and equipment properly, as well as, inhibited general mobility. Some actions affected by the turnout gear were; grasping tools, tying knots, managing a radio, crawling through cramped spaces, and driving. Firefighters also commented that the heat and weight of the gear affected their physical and mental endurance. User needs analysis III: Physiological impact testing of firefighter gear " Physiological impact testing was conducted at IA in an environmental chamber using ten firefighters in their gear to determine thermoregulatory and metabolic responses to the physical stress of wearing turnout gear. Data analysis was completed by the ISU Kinesiology faculty members and currently at the stage of discussing the results with NC-170 members. " An extensive thermal study was conducted at OK using a sweating thermal manikin to study the relationship between microclimate temperature/humidity and body temperature/sweat rate, ultimately to develop the mathematical model and estimate firefighters body temperature from microclimate data measured by WSN. For the experiment, the range of core temperatures within the safe limits of human physiology was chosen, 36°C to 39°C, and tests were performed at 0.5 °C intervals. Thermal manikin Walter was dressed in a 100% cotton T-shirt, firefighter pants and the prototype firefighter coat integrated with wireless sensors. The walk-in environmental chamber was set at 20°C and 50% RH. The analysis of variance showed that sensor location and microclimate temperature have significant effects on core temperature estimation (both with p<0.01), whereas microclimate humiditys effect is not statistically significant (p=0.082). Further analysis revealed that the chest microclimate temperature was a better indicator than the back microclimate temperature (R2 = 0.308 and R2 = 0.138 respectively). " OK completed wear trials in a controlled environment, which is the final step in development of smart clothing. The firefighter garment was tested using six male subjects. The results presented that sensor location and MC temperature significantly affected the core temperature estimation (both with p<0.01), whereas the effect of MC humidity and MC temperature at back were not statistically significant on core temperature estimation (p=0.771 and p=0.11 respectively). From the results of this project, a request has been made by FireDex to develop a smart firefighter helmet. Another project has also been completed to perform standard and non standard testing of the new glove design comparing one commercially available firefighter glove. " OK developed an alert system based on stationary anchor nodes placed over a grid. Unresolved matter is to locate the downed firefighter relative to other (mobile) firefighter. Further investigation is required to find better solution that could be more robust algorithms or using a different technology. Objective 3: Establish a communication and education system for personal protective technology: " NY developed a new website Firefighters  Suit Up! using historical, current, and experimental turnout gear to increase awareness about how design features relate to fit, function, comfort, and safety. Users can drag-and-drop illustrations of pants, jackets, coveralls, and helmets onto a model to dress the firefighter. The site also invites users to compare their choices to those of others and to send suggestions to the website developers. " A second website in the Suit Up! series is being developed for pesticide handlers at NY. The interactive site asks users to identify the PPE statements on their pesticide labels, and then leads them through the decision-making process of choosing appropriate PPE. The aim is that pesticide handlers will use this website to study for their pesticide applicator certification, to answer PPE questions that arise on the job, and to achieve a safer working environment. This educational resource will link to the Pesticide Applicator Training Core Manual and be incorporated into the existing PPE educational program that includes certification trainings, exhibits, seminars, workshops, and telephone responses. " MN initiated outreach efforts with the Washington Technology Magnet High School in St Paul, MN. A field-trip workshop was conducted for their summer camp, to introduce middle-school girls to wearable technology through hands-on activities. " MD facilitated wear study research across university and industry. These preliminary will be used for designing a more extensive study to assist in development of educational materials. " ASTM F2669 - 09 Standard Performance Specification for Protective Clothing Worn by Operators Applying Pesticides was approved as an ASTM International standard. ISO/DIS 27065 was also approved. The establishment of performance specifications will facilitate industry collaborations and serve as the basis for the development of educational materials. " MD updated and maintained the NC-170 website.

JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS: 2010 Obendorf, S.K., Improving Personal Protection through Novel Materials, Olney Medal Address, AATCC Review, Vol. 10, No. 4: 44-50 (2010). 2010 Vivechana Dixit, Jagdish Tewari, and S. Kay Obendorf Fungal Growth Inhibition of Regenerated Cellulose Nanofibrous Membranes Containing Quillaja Saponin, Archive of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology DOI: 10.1007/s00244-010-9493-6 2010 Barker, J., Black, C., & Cloud, R. (2010). Comfort comparison of ballistic vest panels for police officers. Journal of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management, 6(3). 2009 Barker, J. & Black, C. (2009). Ballistic vests for police officers: Using clothing comfort theory to analyze personal protective clothing. International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education, 2(2), 59-70. 2009 Boorady, L., Rucker, P., Haise, C. & Ashdown, S.P., (2009) Analysis of active positions and PPE needs of agricultural workers Journal of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management, 6(2), http://ojs.cnr.ncsu.edu/index.php/JTATM/article/viewFile/646/455. 2010 L.E. Dunne. Smart Clothing in Practice: Key Design Barriers to Commercialization. Fashion Practice, 2010, 2:1 p41-66. 2010 Gang Sun, Protective performance of disposable and reusable gowns. Sustainable Textiles and Medical Protection Conference, June 1-2, Davis, CA 2009 Mark Ackerman and Margaret Rucker, Prediction of Protection Times for Wildland Fire Fighters Exposed to Thermal Radiation. Report submitted to CAL FIRE 2009 Xin Fei and Gang Sun, Oxidative degradation of organophosphorous pesticides by N-halamine fabrics, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research. V 48, 5604-5609 2009 Kyung Hwa Hong, Ning Lu, and Gang Sun, UV-induced graft polymerization of acrylamide on cellulose by using immobilized benzophenone as a photo-initiator, European Polymer Journal. V45, 2443-2449 2009 Bei Xiang, Kit S. Lam and Gang Sun, Functional fibrous polypropylene solid support and its application in solid phase peptide synthesis and cell specific binding, Reactive and Functional Polymers, Vol 69, 905-914 2010 Kyung Hwa Hong and Gang Sun, Photoactive Antimicrobial Agents/Polyurethanefinished leather, Journal of Applied Polymer Science. Volume 115, Issue 2, Pages: 1138-1144. 2010 Mohammad Reza Badrossamay and Gang Sun, A study of radical graft copolymerization on polypropylene during extrusion using two peroxide initiators, Polymer International, V59, 155-161. 2010 Farzaneh Alihosseini, Jozsef Lango, Kou-San Ju, Bruce D. Hammock, and Gang Sun, Mutation of Bacterium Vibrio gazogenes for Selective Preparation of Colorants, Biotechnology Progress, 26: 352360 2010 Ning Liu, Gang Sun, Sabyasachi Gaan, Patrick Rupper, Controllable surface modifications of polyamide by photo-induced graft polymerization using immobilized photo-initiators, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 116: 36293637 2010 Kyung Hwa Hong and Gang Sun Photoactive antimicrobial PVA hydrogel prepared by freeze-thawing process for wound dressing, Journal of Applied Polymer Science 116: 24182424 2009 Lianjiang Tan, Ding Pan, Ning Pan, Rheological Study on Thermal-induced Gelation Behavior of PAN Solution, Journal of Polymer Research, 16, 341350. 2009 Ozcan Koysuren, Chunsheng Du, Ning Pan, Goknur Bayram, Preparation and Comparison of Two Electrodes for Supercapacitors: Pani/CNT/Ni and Pani/Alizarin treated Nickel, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 113, 10701081. 2009 Moran Wang and Ning Pan, Elastic property of multiphase composites with random microstructure, Journal of Computational Physics, 228, 59785988. 2009 Jing Gao and Ning Pan, Explanation of the Fractal Characteristics of Goose Down Configurations, Textile Research Journal, 79, 11421147. 2009 Jing Gao, Ning Pan and Weidong Yu, Fractal character forecast of down fiber assembly microstructure, Journal of Textile Institute, 100, 539544. 2009 Malcolm M. Q. Xing, Xiaoying Hui, Wen Zhong, Ning Pan, Frank Yaghmaie, H. I. Maibach, In vitro human topical bioactive drug transdermal absorption: Estradiol, Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 28, 171-175. 2010 Hongying Yang, Sukang Zhu and Ning Pan, On the Kubelka-Munk Single-Constant/ Two-Constant Theories, Textile Research Journal, 80, 263 ~ 270. 2010 Jing Gao, Ning Pan and Weidong Yu, Compression Behavior Evaluation of Single-Down-Fiber and Down Fiber Assemblies, Journal of the Textile Institute, 101, 253260. 2010 Lin, S. (2010). The case of Hawaii: Who will pay more for organic cotton? International Journal of Consumer Studies, 34(4), 481-489. 2010 Margaret Rucker, Prediction of medical waste from selected hospital statistics. Sustainable Textiles and Medical Protection Conference, June 1-2, Davis, CA 2010 Margaret Rucker, Whats important to doctors and nurses: an attitude survey. American Reusable Textile Association Conference, July 22-23, Quebec City, Quebec 2010 Peksoz, S., Cao, H., Park, H., An, S.K. and Branson, D. (2010). Core temperature prediction modeling using a sweating manikin (Full paper). Eighth International Meeting for Manikins and Modeling (8I3M), August 2010 PROCEEDINGS 2010 Woo, D.J., Hansen, N., Joo, Y.L., Obendorf, S.K., Morphological effects on self-decontamination of coaxial nanofiber containing TiO2 and MgO, Preceedings of the International Conference on Intelligent Textiles (ICIT2010) Seoul, Korea, June 16-18, 2010, p.94-95 (2010) www.icit2010.org ISBN 978-89-92265-14-0. 2010 Peksoz, S., Cao, H., Park, H., An, S.K. and Branson, D. (2010). Core temperature prediction modeling using a sweating manikin (Full paper). Eighth International Meeting for Manikins and Modeling (8I3M), August 2010 PEER REVIEWED PRESENTATIONS: 2009 An, S. K. Park, H., Peksoz, S., Branson, D., & Cao, H. (2009, October). Development of estimation model to predict firefighters core temperature from microclimate data. Paper presented at the 2009 annual meeting of International Textile and Apparel Association, Bellevue, WA. 2009 Ashdown, S.P., Technology in Research and Teaching: Exploring Novel Landscapes, Distinguished Scholar lecture, International Textile and Apparel Association, Bellevue, WA, Oct. 28-31, 2009, Abstract in the 2009 ITAA Proceedings. 2009 Barker, J., Lee, Y. A., Boorady, L., Ashdown, S., & Lin, S-H. Firefighter turnout gear: Assessment of User Needs, Conference of International Textile and Apparel Association in Bellevue, WA, October 28-31, 2009. 2009 Peksoz, S, Park, H., An, S.K. and Cao, H. (2009). Smart clothing for firefighter protection. Proceedings of Intelligent Textiles and Mass Customization International Conference. ISBN :978-9954-8878-1-4. Casablanca, Morocco, November 12-14, 2009. 2009 Peksoz, S., Starr, C., Choi, K., Kamenidis, P., Park, H. and Branson, D. (2009). Evaluation of Prototype Personal Cooling Interfaced with a Liquid Cooled Garment under Hazmat Suits. ITAA Proceedings #66 Annual Meeting, Bellevue, Washington, October 28-31, 2009. 2010 Shaw, A, C. Coffman, and A. Brown Garment Wear Study to Determine the Pesticide Protective Performance of Cotton/Polyester Fabrics with a Fluorochemical Finish, 2010 International Conference and Exhibition, American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists, Atlanta, Georgia. INVITED PRESENTATIONS/PAPERS: 2010 Boorady, L.M. (April 2010) Design and Development of Industrial Clothing. Industrial Clothing  Exploring New Challenges seminar. Royal University for Women, Kingdom of Bahrain (Invited) 2010 Obendorf, S. Kay, Personal Protection through Nanotechnology, NANO magazine, Issue 17, April, pp. 014-017 (2010). (Invited Paper) INTERNET SITES: Body Scanning for Apparel, Firefighter Gear < http://www.firefightergear.human.cornell.edu > Personal Pesticide Protection, Sizing and Fit of Apparel, THESIS 2010 Spero, E. F., Performance of Self-Decontaminating Textiles for Chemical Protective Clothing, MS Thesis, Cornell University, 2010