Fabric and garment drape were compared using an alternative drape measurement system based on an image analysis technique. Garment drape was investigated using dresses suspended on a mannequin. A graphical user interface was developed to carry out the image analysis and to calculate drape values identifying and determining 21 parameters. A range of fabrics including knitted, woven and nonwoven fabrics were compared in terms of FAST properties, drape coefficient and drape values. Visual assessment of the fabric range was carried out in terms of drape amount and preference. Low agreement was found between individuals with regard to preferred drape amount and high agreement with respect to actual drape amount. Nonwovens were found of better preference over some traditional fabrics. Most of the drape values of fabric and garment were found to have poor correlations.

A systems approach that integrates processing, structure, property and performance relations has been used in the design of multilevel-structured fibrous materials. For electrospun fibrous structure, numerical implementation of multiscale materials philosophy provides a hierarchy of computational models defining design parameters that are integrated through computational continuum mechanics. Electrospun micro/nano (multiscale) poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) fibrous scaffolds were studied. The fibrous structures were evaluated for their mechanical, morphological and cell attachment properties. The cell attachment studies showed that cell activity on multi-scale scaffolds was higher compared to micro-fibrous scaffolds. These results suggest that the combination of a micro- and nano-fiber hierarchical scaffold could be more beneficial for tissue engineering applications than for individual scaffolds.

Polyaniline (PANI)/montmorillonite (MMT) composites were prepared by in-situ polymerization of aniline in the presence of MMT with ammonium persulfate (APS) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) as oxidant and acid dopant, respectively. PANI/MMT composites on structural properties were analyzed by FT-IR, XRD and SEM. The result of FT-IR analysis signified an interaction between PANI backbones and MMT layer surfaces. X-ray diffraction showed an increase in the interlayer spacing of MMT, signifying PANI was intercalated into the MMT galleries. PANI prepared in the presence of MMT exhibited flake-like morphology rather than granular particle form of PANI without MMT. PANI/MMT10% showed higher electrical conductivity than pristine PANI. PANI and PANI/MMT were separately used as the fillers to prepare paraffin composites and PANI/MMT10% had a better microwave absorbing performance than PANI. The minimum reflection loss of PANI/MMT10%/paraffin composites with thickness of 8.0 mm were -37 dB at 14.8 GHz and the effective absorption band under -10 dB was from 13 to 16 GHz.

In this research, movements of the upper limbs of caregivers when putting on/removing the dummy's nursing care clothes with different designs were measured using electromyography (EMG) and video filming. Caregivers' sensory assessments of the burden caused by their services were also investigated to determine how the physiological burden in the upper limbs and sensation of burden relate to each other. Subjects were 10 healthy women aged 23 ± 3 years, with a height of 159.7 ± 8.7 cm and weight of 50.5 ± 8 kg. None of the women had ever provided nursing care to anyone. For this experiment, four kinds of samples were used. By combining EMG and questionnaires, it was made possible to quantify the burden on the upper limbs, which cannot be assessed solely according to work time. Differences in the workload associated with trousers having different designs were also studied. Also, the possibility was suggested that by taking such an approach, nursing care clothes may be developed that would further reduce the burden on caregivers while providing nursing care.

The paper presents part of a comprehensive and complex investigation in the field of computer design and 3D garment simulation within which it investigates developed computer-based parametric prototype of a men's suit and whether it is suitable for computer adaptation according to measurements of different body characteristics. The investigation was conducted by segments. It was necessary to do tests and measurements using innovative computing technologies and appropriate measuring equipments. Using the 2D/3D CAD system for the preparation of garment construction, a 2D pattern was developed for the purpose of computer grading for selected sets of sizes according to different figures and statures. The scanning data process was performed through using a 3D laser scanner and a computer analysis was made with anthropometric measurements of the body on a sample of male subjects of different anthropometric body characteristics. The most complex part of the research was finding mathematical expressions and comprehensive development of a men's suit model with the aim of translating 2D pattern parts from vector into parametric format, which allows simultaneous changes in several corresponding segments of pattern pieces.

Through the comparative analysis of China's national and international standard systems on chemical protective clothing (CPC), this paper summarizes the differences in classification and minimum performance requirements between several standard systems. The study provides the most basic performance assessment factors for all types of CPC. It can also be observed that the standard systems of European Standards (EN) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) have similar classifications and performance requirements for CPC, while China's standard systems (GB) mainly give detailed requirements for emergency team CPC as a supplement for previous international standards.

The synthesis of nanoparticles from biological processes is evolving a new era of research interests in nanotechnology. Silver nanoparticles are usually synthesized by chemicals which are quite toxic and flammable in nature. This study deals with an environment friendly and biosynthesis process of antibacterial silver nanoparticles using bamboo leaves. The formation and characterisation of AgNPs were confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The antimicrobial activities were carried out against E. coli and S. aureus strains by using disc diffusion method.

The blend of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) were prepared and extruded with various compositions and their molded properties were examined. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that thermal stability of the blends was higher than that of pure PLA and the weight loss of PLA/PBS (40/60 wt%) was lower than neat polymers. Differential scanning calorimetry thermograms of blends indicated that the thermal properties of PLA did not change noticeably when blended with PBS. The tensile strength and modulus of blends decreased with the increasing PBS content. But impact strength has improved about two times compared to pure PLA. Rheological results revealed that the addition of 10% and 20% of PBS increased the storage modulus, loss modulus and viscosity of the blend at nearly all frequencies, and decreased viscosity with increasing shear stress. Dynamic mechanical properties results showed the lowering of storage modulus of all blended PLA which indicated the increase of molecular mobility by adding PBS due to lower glass transition.

The structure of carriers play an important role in the space distribution of different drugs, therefore this paper studies multivesicular liposomes (MVLs), which have a unique nano-in-micro structure as possible carriers in combination therapy. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and mitoxantrone hydrochloride (DHAD) were selected as model drugs for protein and small molecule drug respectively. The results show that the MVLs are spherical and that the internal space is divided up into numerous compartments. The particle size ranged from 15 to 20 μm and the system was stable according to the zeta potentials. In vitro release studies display that the DHAD/HRP co-loaded MVLs has better sustained release profiles than one drug alone, and the MVLs exhibited an orderly release behavior which suggested that MVLs might be used as drug carriers in combination therapy applications.

Nonwoven geotextiles manufactured by mechanical carding process and bonding by needling process are investigated in this paper. Part of the samples was additionally bonded by thermal calendaring process. Sampling was conducted according to the standard for geotextile with certain modifications. The samples were tested for water permeability perpendicular to the plane of samples using loads of 2, 20 and 200 kPa. Characteristic opening size of geotextiles was tested using sieving method. Research shows that different applied pressures significantly change structure and properties i.e. thickness and water permeability normal to the plain under load of geotextile.