In a stretch yarn (1) comprising a stretchable core (2) covered by an inelastic fibers sheath (3) the stretchable core (2) comprises first and second fibers (4, 5) that have elastic properties, the first fiber (4) is an elastomer and the second fiber (5) is a polyester based (co)polymer, the amount of the second fiber being in the range of 60-90% (w/w) of the total weight of the fibers of the stretchable core (2); the first and second fibers are connected together at least at a plurality of points (P).

Disclosed herein are polyesters and fibers made therefrom. The fiber comprises a polymer, poly(trimethylene furandicarboxylate) (PTF), and PTF based copolymers.

Actuators (artificial muscles) comprising twisted polymer fibers generate tensile actuation when powered thermally. In some embodiments, the thermally-powered polymer fiber tensile actuator can be incorporated into an article, such as a textile or garment.

A method and system for the production of fibers for use in biocomposites is provided that includes the ability to use both retted and unretted straw, that keeps the molecular structure of the fibers intact by subjecting the fibers to minimal stress, that maximizes the fiber's aspect ratio, that maximizes the strength of the fibers, and that minimizes time and energy inputs, along with maintaining the fibers in good condition for bonding to the polymer(s) used with the fibers to form the biocomposite material. This consequently increases the functionality of the biocomposites produced (i.e. reinforcement, sound absorption, light weight, heat capacity, etc.), increasing their marketability. Additionally, as the disclosed method does not damage the fibers, oilseed flax straw, as well as all types of fibrous materials (i.e. fiber flax, banana, jute, industrial hemp, sisal, coir) etc., can be processed in bio composite materials.

Described are methods for the assembly of monolayer, bilayer, or multi-layer structures composed of homogenous rod-like molecules and particles. Included are methods for tuning physical properties of the mono- or multi-layered structures by changing ionic conditions and the size or concentration of polymer used for self-assembly.

Disclosed herein are laminates that include a layer containing a metal-coated fabric. The laminate may also include a layer or layers of an organic polymeric matrix composite. In accordance with certain embodiments, the matrix composite includes a thermosetting or thermoplastic resin matrix with parallel-oriented reinforcing fibers embedded therein, interposed between the metal-coated fabric layers.

An alumina fiber aggregate that is formed of alumina short fibers and has been subjected to needling treatment, wherein the alumina short fibers have an average fiber diameter of 6.0 μm or more and 10.0 μm or less and a specific surface area of 0.2 m.sup.2/g or more and 1.0 m.sup.2/g or less, and a residual percentage (%) of high-temperature-cycle opened gap pressure of the alumina fiber aggregate is 45% or more. A value obtained by subtracting twice the standard error of a length-weighted geometric mean diameter of fiber diameters of the alumina short fibers from the length-weighted geometric mean diameter is 6.0 μm or more. A proportion of alumina short fibers having a fiber diameter of more than 10.0 μm is preferably 5.0% or less on a number basis.

A composite scaffold having a highly porous interior with increased surface area and void volume is surrounded by a flexible support structure that substantially maintains its three-dimensional shape under tension and provides mechanical reinforcement during repair or reconstruction of soft tissue while simultaneously facilitating regeneration of functional tissue.

Methods to produce laminates including layers of constructs made from P4HB and copolymers thereof have been developed. These laminates may be used as medical implants, or further processed to make medical implants. The laminates are produced at a temperature equal to or greater than the softening points of the P4HB or copolymers thereof. The layers may include oriented forms of the constructs. Orientation can be preserved during lamination so that the laminate is also oriented, when the laminates are formed at temperatures less than the de-orientation temperatures of the layers. The laminate layers may include, for example, films, textiles, including woven, knitted, braided and non-woven textiles, foams, thermoforms, and fibers. The laminates preferably include one or more oriented P4HB films.

An image processing system or electronic device may implement processing circuitry. The processing circuitry may receive an image, such as financial document image. The processing circuitry may determine a character count for the financial document image or particular portions of the financial document image without recognizing any particular character in the financial document image. In that regard, the processing circuitry may determine a top left score for pixels in the financial document, the top left score indicating or representing a likelihood that a particular pixel corresponds to a top left corner of a text character. The processing circuitry may also determine top right score for image pixels. Then, the processing circuitry may identify one or more text chunks using the top left and top rights scores for pixels in the financial document image. The processing circuitry may determine a character count for the identified text chunks.