The morphological and chemical properties of polyaniline (PANI) nanocomposite films after adding small amounts of auxiliary gases such as argon, nitrogen, and oxygen during atmospheric pressure (AP) plasma polymerization are investigated in detail. A separate gas-supply line for applying an auxiliary gas is added to the AP plasma polymerization system to avoid plasma instability due to the addition of auxiliary gas during polymerization. A small amount of neutral gas species in the plasma medium can reduce the reactivity of monomers hyperactivated by high plasma energy and prevent excessive crosslinking, thereby obtaining a uniform and regular PANI nanocomposite film. The addition of small amounts of argon or nitrogen during polymerization significantly improves the uniformity and regularity of PANI nanocomposite films, whereas the addition of oxygen weakens them. In particular, the PANI film synthesized by adding a small amount of nitrogen has the best initial electrical resistance and resistance changing behavior with time after the ex situ iodine (I2)-doping process compared with other auxiliary gases. In addition, it is experimentally demonstrated that the electrical conductivity of the ex situ I2-doped PANI film can be preserved for a long time by isolating it from the atmosphere.

This study investigated the separate and combined effects of skin cooling and cold fluid ingestion on the alleviation of heat strain when wearing protective firefighting clothing at an air temperature of 30°C with 50%RH. A vest with the dual functions of cooling and providing sports drink supply (1.2% body mass) was developed. Eight males participated in the following four conditions: control [CON], drinking only [DO], cooling only [CO], and both cooling and drinking [CD]. The results showed that rectal (T re), mean skin temperature (T sk) and heart rate (HR) during recovery were lower for CD than for CON (p<0.05), while no significant differences between the four conditions were found during exercise. CO significantly reduced mean T sk and HR and improved thermal sensation, whereas DO was effective for relieving thirst and lowering HR in recovery. In summary, the combined effect of skin cooling and fluid ingestion was synergistically manifested in T re , T sk and thermal sensation in recovery.Practitioner Summary: The present results provide data on a novel vest that contributes to alleviating firefighters' heat strain. Because a cooling vest after melting may be a burden for firefighters, this study indicates a practical way to reduce the additional weight load of the vest by drinking the melted fluid of the cooling packs.

The purpose of this study was to identify the irrigation intervals and the amount of suitable growing substrate needed to achieve the desired shallow-extensive green roof system during a dry summer in Korea. In terms of treatment, three types (SL, P6P2L2, P4P4L2) with varying soil mixture ratios and two types (15 cm, 25 cm) with varying soil depths were created. The results have been analyzed after measuring growth and soil water contents. The difference of growth by treatment was significant in terms of green coverage, height, leaf width and photosynthesis. In measurement of chlorophyll content, no difference was detected when measured against soil depth. According to the growth measurement of Zoysia japonica with respect to differing soil mixture ratios in the 15 cm-deep treatment, a statistical difference was detected at the 0.05 significance level in photosynthesis. In case of green coverage, height, chlorophyll content and leaf width, no statistical significance was observed. In case of the 25 cm-deep treatment, a statistical significance was observed in height and photosynthesis. In terms of green coverage, chlorophyll content and leaf width, no statistical significance was detected. In comparisons of soil moisture tension and soil water contents, the irrigation interval and amount were 8 days and 14.9 L in the SL (15 cm) treatment, respectively. The irrigation interval showed for 10 days a 1.3-fold increase, and the irrigation amount was 27.4 L 1.8-fold more than SL (25 cm), respectively. For P6P2L2 (15 cm) treatment, the irrigation interval and amount were 12 days and 20.7 L, respectively. However, an irrigation interval under P6P2L2 (25 cm) was for 15 days 1.3 times longer than P6P2L2 (15 cm), and an irrigation amount of 40 L was 1.9 times more than that under P6P2L2 (15 cm). In P4P4L2 (15 cm)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate upper-limb cooling following (treadmill) exercise performed in the heat (33 o C, 70% relative humidity) at each of three speeds: light (6 km.h -1 ), intermediate (8 km.h -1 ) and moderate intensity (10 km.h -1 ). In all trials, exercise ceased when rectal temperature reached 39.0 o C. Participants adopted a sitting position for a 20-min recovery, and liquid-cooling sleeves with cold water (6.3 o C) were immediately positioned. The chosen work rates resulted in a two-fold difference in exercise duration across those trials, which terminated without significant between-trial differences within either auditory canal or rectal temperatures. Auditory canal temperature elevation rates became progressively faster as the work rate increased: 0.03 o C.min -1 (light), 0.05 o C.min -1 (intermediate) and 0.07 o C.min -1 (moderate) (P<0.05). However, heat extraction during recovery did not differ among those treatments: -11.2 W (SE 0.5; light), -11.8 W (0.6; intermediate) and -12.3 W (0.5; moderate; P>0.05). That outcome was reflected in auditory canal cooling rates (0.03 o C.min -1 [light], 0.04 o C.min -1 [intermediate] and 0.05 o C.min -1 [moderate]). Nevertheless, rectal temperatures continued to rise throughout recovery. It is concluded that heat extraction from moderately hyperthermic individuals, using upper-limb cooling sleeves, appears to be equally rapid, regardless of heating speed, providing the same level of hyperthermia was attained prior to initiating treatment.

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