Leather and Footwear Journal

Volume 14, no 4

Contents
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Investigation of Childrens Foot Arch Based on the Variation Between Static and Dynamic Footprint
- Pages 205-216
  Jin ZHOU^{1, 2}, Youran ZHANG¹, Wuyong CHEN^{1, 2}, Bo XU^{1, 2}*
  - ¹National Engineering Laboratory for Clean Technology of Leather Manufacture, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China; email: zj_scu@qq.com
  - ²Key laboratory for leather chemistry and engineering of the education ministry, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
  ABSTRACT. Since no efforts have been made to comprehend the function of childrens foot arch from the viewpoint of the static and dynamic footprint, our study first aimed at quantitatively defining the function of healthy childrens longitudinal and transverse arch based on the variation between static and dynamic footprint in terms of foot size, angle and proportion parameters; and then providing a normative range of foot change due to arch for the diagnosis of childrens abnormal foot function. The static and dynamic footprint of 401 healthy children aged between two and 11 were first obtained by the way of three-dimensional scanning and plantar pressure measurement. All children were checked by an experienced orthopedic expert and those with foot deformity were excluded. The parameters such as foot length, foot width, arch angle and arch ratio were determined. Paired-T test was mainly applied for statistical analysis with the significant level 0.05. The result shows that significant differences existed between the childrens static and dynamic footprint in terms of size, angle and proportion and according to those distinctions, the function of childrens foot arch could be quantitatively defined. Besides, our result also indicates that except the age group of two, there were no significant differences between the boys and girls in all age groups and variables. Overall, the function of foot arch was quantitatively defined by variable of foot size, angle and proportion and it was independent to the effect of the gender; meanwhile results of this study could be used in the clinical practice of orthopedics.
  
  KEY WORDS: orthopedics; dynamic footprint; static footprint; children; foot arch
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Questionnaire Design for Foot Health Evaluation
- Pages 217-226
  Alina IOVAN-DRAGOMIR*
  - Gheorghe Asachi Technical University, Iasi, 29 D. Mangeron Bd, alina.dragomir@windowslive.com
  ABSTRACT. Feet are the foundation and support of most human activities. Feet problems, even minor ones, influence the ability to work and freedom to do all kinds of activities, limiting individual options and affecting the quality of life. The aim of this study is to apply the principles of contentment and validation in order to develop a new questionnaire specifically designed to measure foot health status. For this, a group of experts was nominated to establish the domains of questionnaire and to develop the specific questions. The items were then evaluated by a validation group. 141 persons evaluated each item. The evaluation gave information about the importance of each domain and the relevance of each question to foot health.
  
  KEY WORDS: pain, life quality, footwear
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Investigation of Rheological Behavior of Modified Polychloroprene Adhesive Compositions
- Pages 227-242
  Darina Ivanova ZHELEVA*, Vassil Ivanov SAMICHKOV
  - University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, Department of Textile and Leather, Sofia, Bulgaria, 1756, Kl. Ohridsky blvd. 8, Tel: +359 2 8163 272, e-mail: jelevad@uctm.edu; samichkov@uctm.edu
  ABSTRACT. The paper proposes a new approach to improve the technological properties of polychloroprene adhesives by changing the mixing regime. This approach has contributed not only to improving the rheological and mechanical properties of the adhesives used, but also for a detailed theoretical explanation of the rheological behavior. The purpose of this work is to study the rheological behavior of modified polychloroprene adhesive compositions in dependence of the amount of the modifying agent and the mixing regimes to achieve the optimal process parameters of bonding and prediction of their technological features. Seven types of polychloroprene-based adhesives were used and a modification with phenol formaldehyde resin was applied. Investigations were made on the influence of modifying agent amount, on rubber compounds processing regimes, on reaction conditions, on the rheological behavior of polymer fluids, on the interactions occurring between the rubber and the other components within the adhesive compositions, on the adhesion properties of the polychloroprene adhesives. Data from rheological analysis were compared with the results of microscopic observations and physico-mechanical properties. Using rheological analysis, it was found that the addition of resin to the rubber on the rolls during the mixing process favors the adhesion, leads to better wetting of the substrates and the formation of a strong glue joint. The optimal amount of the resin as an agent improving the compatibility between the oxides associates and the chloroprene rubber and the associates of the rubber itself was determined.
  
  KEY WORDS: chloroprene adhesives, resins, modification, rheology, strength
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Plantar Footprints Analysis - Case Study (Part 2)
- Pages 243-250
  Mariana COSTEA¹, Ana-Maria VASILESCU², Guillaume HORTAL³, Aura MIHAI¹*
  - ¹"Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iasi, Faculty of Textile, Leather and Industrial Management, Iasi, Romania, aura_mihai@yahoo.com
  - ²INCDTP - Division: Leather and Footwear Research Institute Bucharest, 93 Ion Minulescu, sector 3, 031215, Bucharest, Romania
  - ³National School of Arts and Textile Industries of Roubaix, France
  ABSTRACT. This article aims to analyze the feet of a single subject regarding the footprints, the foot axis deviation angle, the hallux-valgus angle, the repartition of surfaces and impulses and also, the balance of the feet. The footprints were used to analyse the typology of the feet. It has been demonstrated that the right foot is different from the left foot in what concerns the foot axis angle, the hallux-valgus angle, the repartition of surface and impulse for each foot and also for the balance of the feet. A complete knowledge of the feet can be obtained; and then, solutions can be proposed and found. In this case the solutions were special insole for each foot. The next stage of the research will be focused on designing and rapid prototyping of personalized insoles for this particular subject.
  
  KEY WORDS: foot, plantar pressure, impulse, angles, balance
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Analysis of the Correlation between Project Strategy and Impact Factors of Research and Development Projects
- Pages 251-268
  Margareta FLORESCU¹*, Gheorghe COARĂ², Luminița ALBU²
  - ¹The Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, icefaceus@yahoo.com
  - ²INCDTP - Division Leather and Footwear Research Institute, 93 Ion Minulescu, sector 3, Bucharest, Romania, icpi@icpi.ro
  ABSTRACT. Due to increasingly higher influences of science and technology in the industrial sector on national economy, national funds were created in different financing programs for research and development (R&D) projects. Many studies were carried out to evaluate performance of such R&D projects. This paper deals with the implementation of project strategy to improve performance of developing a new product in project activity, to analyse the short-, medium- and long-term performance relationship among impact factors of R&D projects in the industrial field. The importance of developing project strategy was one of the major issues both for the industry and for academic fields. In many cases, project strategy is not well developed for large and complex projects. The results of this paper are expected to contribute to a better understanding of the impact of financing through R&D projects, by validating a model to evaluate relationships between implementing project strategy, results of the R&D project and performance of results on the market.
  
  KEY WORDS: project management, strategy, impact, financing
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