A shoe including a sole and an upper. The upper is coupled to the sole. The upper includes an outer layer and an inner layer. The outer layer has an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface of the outer layer is in direct contact with the inner layer. The outer layer is a hot melt thermoplastic material, and the inner layer is a material different from that of the outer layer. At least a portion of the outer layer is adhered to the inner layer, and the inner layer including a portion not covered by the outer layer.

Footwear includes an inner knitted fabric (5) and an outer knitted fabric (4) that are connected by a stitch row at a top line (6). In the footwear, wale directions of the inner knitted fabric and the outer knitted fabric are different, and/or, the outer knitted fabric is provided with a portion made of a knitted structure (50) with holes, and the inner knitted fabric arranged on the inner side of that portion is made of a knitted structure (60) whose stretchability is lower than that of another portion of the inner knitted fabric. A difference in stretchability between the vertical and horizontal directions of the footwear provided with a double layer knitted fabric is reduced, or a difference in stretchability depending on the position in the footwear is reduced.

A method of forming a fiber reinforced plate for an article of footwear is described. The method includes embroidering a reinforcing strand to a substrate layer with a thread according to a strand configuration. One or more substrate layers with strand configurations are arranged relative to a base plate. The one or more substrate layers are bonded to the base plate to form the fiber reinforced plate. The reinforcing strands may be formed of a heat fusible material so that adjacent segments of the strands bond to one another and/or the substrate layer. Various strand configurations of reinforcing strands embroidered to substrate layers are described. Multiple substrate layers with different strand configurations can be bonded together with a base plate to form a fiber reinforced plate with reinforcement at selected locations based on the strand configurations.

Boot shafts can be designed for comfort by providing expansion in the shaft of a boot. Portions of a shaft can be replaced, augmented, or associated with a more deformable and elastically resilient material or materials. When effectively associated or integrated, the elastic material can allow for temporary expansion of the shaft to ease passage of the heel and foot through the shaft and into the shoe box. A long thin resilient feature can provide expansion and ease of passage of a foot down the boot shaft while also potentially minimizing conspicuous departure from conventional stylings. Such features can also be physically obscured with straps (which may rotate, for example). Such features may be curved or angled to visually in fit with and even be camouflaged by surrounding decorative ornamentation on the shaft of such a boot. Boots and their insoles can also include air passages to enhance cooling and comfort and facilitate air movement to cool the foot and/or leg of a wearer. Boots can further allow resilient features and or openings spanned by resilient materials, where such openings do not extend below a waterproof line.

An article of footwear with an upper including a ribbon structure is disclosed. The ribbon structure comprises ribbon sections winding back and forth between the peripheral edges of the upper. At the peripheral edges, the ribbon loops around and some portions along the loops may raise up from a backing layer. An embroidered border element is applied over the peripheral edges to tack down or cover the raised portions of ribbon. The loops of ribbon may also be used as lace loops.

An article of footwear with an upper including a ribbon structure is disclosed. The ribbon structure comprises ribbon sections running in at least two different directions. Ribbon sections are connected at nodes that may move substantially independently of other nodes. The ribbon structure can provide strength along one of the directions and may simultaneously remain slack in the other direction.

An article of footwear includes a sole and an upper at least partially formed of a textile element. The textile element includes a yarn matrix having a plurality of interlocked strands oriented in predetermined directions. A structural element may be captured within the matrix at selected locations. In operation, the matrix is stitched onto a temporary substrate. The substrate is removed and the article coupled to a sole structure to form the article of footwear.

Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to formulations for cancer treatment that include a particle loaded with diethylstilbestrol (DES) and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The pharmaceutically acceptable carrier may also be loaded into the particle. The formulations may also include a stabilizer that is also loaded into the particle. The particles may be dispersed in an aqueous solution to form a nanosuspension that is adapted for subcutaneous administration and sustained release of DES. Additional embodiments pertain to methods of treating cancer in a subject by administering to the subject a formulation of the present disclosure. The subject may be a human suffering from prostate cancer. The administration of the formulations to the subject may bypass or minimize first pass metabolism. The administration may also minimize hepatic exposure of DES. Additional embodiments pertain to methods of making the formulations of the present disclosure by loading a particle with DES.

An article of apparel or sporting equipment, such as garments and footwear incorporates a molded component formed of a UV radiation curable material. In the case of an article of footwear, the UV radiation curable material may be formed into an outsole. The method of manufacturing such articles include placing an ultraviolet radiation curable material in contact with a molding surface; conforming the UV radiation curable material to a shape of the molding surface, forming a molded component; and removing the molded component from the molding surface, such that the component maintains the shape of the molding surface. The molded component may be exposed to ultraviolet radiation in an amount and for a duration that is sufficient to partially cure or fully cure the UV radiation curable material.

An article of footwear may have an upper with a knitted component. Alone or in combination, the knitted component may include regions with different degrees of stretch-resistance; the knitted component forms a collar with a half-gauge knit; the upper includes a strand with sections that are inlaid within the knitted component, and the sections are positioned immediately adjacent to each other; the strand forms a plurality of loops, pairs of the loops are positioned immediately adjacent to each other and configured to receive a lace; and the knitted component includes a thermoplastic polymer material, and the strand is unbonded to the thermoplastic polymer material.