An absorbent article (10, 110, 210) can include an absorbent assembly (43) including a bodyside liner (28), an outer cover (26, 126, 226), and an absorbent body (35) disposed between the bodyside liner (28) and the outer cover (26, 126, 226). The outer cover (26, 126, 226) can include at least one opaque region (64, 164, 264) and a first indicator region (66, 166, 266). The first indicator region (66, 166, 266) can have a light transmittance that is greater than a light transmittance of the at least one opaque region (64, 164, 264). At least a portion of the first indicator region (66, 166, 266) can be located between the first longitudinal edge (36) of the absorbent body (35) and the first coupling length (45) of the first containment flap (44) in at least the crotch region (16) of the absorbent article (10, 110, 210).

Membranes and methods of making and using the membranes are described herein. The membranes can include a foamed polymeric support and a plurality of inorganic particles disposed within the foamed polymeric support. The foamed polymeric support can contain a hydrophilic polymer such as polyethersulfone. The plurality of inorganic particles can include hydrophilic particles such as zeolite particles. In certain embodiments, the membrane can be used in humidifiers, such as those used in fuel cell systems. In some aspects, the membrane can be used for separating a fluid mixture comprising water. The membranes described herein are stable for high temperature applications.

The present application relates to an electronic wetness-sensing absorbent article and related methods. The electronic wetness-sensing absorbent article includes a flexible waterproof thin film; at least two mutually separated and insulated flexible electrodes disposed on one surface of the flexible waterproof thin film; a water-permeable braided fabric layer; and an absorbent layer disposed on the other surface of the flexible waterproof thin film, located between the flexible waterproof thin film and the water-permeable braided fabric layer, and adapted to absorb a liquid entering from the water-permeable braided fabric layer. The flexible waterproof thin film, the flexible electrodes, and the liquid contained in the absorbent layer form a non-polar variable electrolytic capacitor. The wetness state of the electronic wetness-sensing absorbent article is obtained by detecting the capacitance value of the variable electrolytic capacitor and change thereof.

A method of modifying substrate surface includes: performing an O.sub.2 plasma treatment on a substrate including polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS); coating hydrophilic UV curing coating uniformly on the substrate; disposing the substrate into an oxygen-free environment; and exposing to an UV light to cure the hydrophilic UV curing coating. The method of modifying substrate surface may greatly enhance the hydrophilicity and the stability of the PDMS substrate.

Formulations and methods employing these formulation for fabricating an object by additive manufacturing, such as three-dimensional inkjet printing are provided. The formulations comprise at least 50 weight percents of hydrophilic curable materials, and upon curing, provide a material that is characterized by water absorbance of at least 5%, and by high HDT and impact resistance values. Objects containing cured material made of these formulations are also provided.

There is provided a method and system for forming a composite material. The method includes: combining a first component element with a second component element to form a composite mixture; subjecting the composite mixture to a first force to in order to form ligaments and disperse the first component element and second component element in relation to each other, wherein the first force is a mechanical force, subjecting the ligaments to at least one second force in order to form attenuated ligaments and further disperse the first component element and second component element in relation to each other, wherein the at least one second force imparts both shear flow deformation and extensional flow deformation to the ligaments to form the attenuated ligaments; and collecting the attenuated ligaments. There is also provided a composite material prepared using the method described above.

A resin molded body, includes: a polyolefin element including a crystalline region and an amorphous region; and a hydrophilic polymer contained in a region from a surface of the polyolefin element to part of the amorphous region located below the surface. Or, a method for producing a resin molded body, includes: preparing a polyolefin element including a crystalline region and an amorphous region; forming a coating of a hydrophilic polymer on a surface of the polyolefin element; and applying heat treatment to the polyolefin element on which the coating of the hydrophilic polymer is formed, wherein by applying the heat treatment, the coating of the hydrophilic polymer is immersed in a region from the surface to part of the amorphous region located below the surface.

A system/method allowing hydrophilicity alteration of a polymeric material (PM) is disclosed. The PM hydrophilicity alteration changes the PM characteristics by decreasing the PM refractive index, increasing the PM electrical conductivity, and increasing the PM weight. The system/method incorporates a laser radiation source that generates tightly focused laser pulses within a three-dimensional portion of the PM to affect these changes in PM properties. The system/method may be applied to the formation of customized intraocular lenses comprising material (PLM) wherein the lens created using the system/method is surgically positioned within the eye of the patient. The implanted lens refractive index may then be optionally altered in situ with laser pulses to change the optical properties of the implanted lens and thus achieve optimal corrected patient vision. This system/method permits numerous in situ modifications of an implanted lens as the patient's vision changes with age.

The present invention provides a method for producing a medical device, which includes a step of disposing a solution containing a hydrophilic polymer having a hydroxyl group and an amide group and a substrate on or in a support, and heating the solution and the substrate through the support, wherein a pH of the solution before starting the heating step is in a range of 2.0 or higher and 6.0 or lower, and a pH of the solution after completion of the heating step is in a range of 2.0 or higher and 6.0 or lower. The present invention provides a method for simply producing a medical device. More particularly, the present invention provides a method for simply producing a medical device whose surface is hydrophilized.

In an example of a method for three-dimensional (3D) printing, a polymeric build material is applied to form a build material layer. A fusing agent is selectively applied, based on a 3D object model, onto the build material layer to form a patterned portion. A hydrophilic agent is selectively applied, based on the 3D object model, onto at least a portion of the patterned portion. The hydrophilic agent includes from 1 wt % to 12 wt % of a hydrophilic polymer dissolved in an aqueous liquid vehicle, wherein the hydrophilic polymer has a molar mass ranging from 1000 g/mol to 12,000 g/mol and is water-absorbent at a water to hydrophilic polymer weight ratio from 2:1 to 1000:1. The build material layer is exposed to energy to selectively coalesce the patterned portion and form a 3D object layer having a hydrophilic portion.