Abstract: A multi-threat base ensemble is provided that can include a shirt and pants. The shirt and pants provide flame and chemical protection to a wearer such as a first responder. The base ensemble also includes a targeted hazard protection system providing protection to the wearer at predetermined areas and a cinching system for selectively adjusting a portion of the shirt or pants allowing the targeted hazard protection system to be selectively drawn into proximity with a body of the wearer. Areas of stretchable ventilation and selectively-actuated ventilation openings, and additional comfort and protection elements are also provided.

Abstract: A multi-layer fabric used to fabricate a garment or a protective cover includes a top and bottom textile layer and an air permeable, moisture-vapor-transmissive, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene middle layer. The fabric exhibits an MVTR rating of at least 4000 g/m2/day. The fabric may also include a top layer coating or fiber treatment of a nano-ceramic material designed to increase the durability of the garment/cover and increase the resistance to abrasion and wear while also resisting environmental conditions including exposure to solar radiation, temperature and humidity. Alternatively, the upper layer of the multi-layer fabric may incorporate ceramic coated fibers or ceramic co-extruded fibers, or carbon nanotubes while in another embodiment may also feature a fire resistant application as well as a permanent, highly breathable and highly durable electro-static discharge feature added to the inside of the layer by laying down a carbon based printed pattern on the inside of the layer.

Abstract: A multi-layer fabric used to fabricate a garment or a protective cover includes a top and bottom textile layer and an air permeable, moisture-vapor-transmissive, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene middle layer. The fabric exhibits an MVTR rating of at least 4000 g/m2/day. The fabric may also include a top layer coating or fiber treatment of a nano-ceramic material designed to increase the durability of the garment/cover and increase the resistance to abrasion and wear while also resisting environmental conditions including exposure to solar radiation, temperature and humidity. Alternatively, the upper layer of the multi-layer fabric may incorporate ceramic coated fibers or ceramic co-extruded fibers, or carbon nanotubes while in another embodiment may also feature a fire resistant application as well as a permanent, highly breathable and highly durable electro-static discharge feature added to the inside of the layer by laying down a carbon based printed pattern on the inside of the layer.

Abstract: An enhanced protective cover includes a top and bottom textile layer and an air permeable, moisture-vapor-transmissive, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane layer located between the two textile layers. The cover exhibits an MVTR rating of at least 4000 g/m2/day. The protective cover also includes a top layer coating or fiber treatment of a nano-ceramic material designed to increase the durability of the cover and increase the resistance to abrasion and wear while also resisting environmental conditions including exposure to solar radiation, temperature and humidity. Alternatively, the upper layer of the protective cover may incorporate ceramic coated fibers or ceramic co-extruded fibers, or carbon nanotubes. The protective cover may also feature a fire resistant application. The top textile layer may also include a permanent, highly breathable and highly durable electro-static discharge feature added to the inside of the layer by laying down a carbon based printed pattern on the inside of the layer.

Abstract: A removable insole for insertion into footwear, includes a lower layer made of a viscoelastic gel and including a lower surface, an upper surface, a toe portion, a heel portion and a medial arch portion interconnecting the toe portion and the heel portion, a first recess formed in the lower surface of the toe portion and a second recess formed in the lower surface of the heel portion, each recess having a peripheral side wall and a top wall, a plurality of thin, parallel, spaced apart sinusoidal wave shaped spring walls formed from the viscoelastic gel and connected to the top wall and the peripheral side wall in each recess, and the spring walls having lower edges generally coplanar with a lower surface of the toe portion and heel portion which is in surrounding relation to the respective recess; and a top cover secured to the upper surface of the lower layer.

Abstract: The invention discloses a boiling-stable granular resistant starch product which may comprise over 60% resistant starch as determined by the TDF method. The starch is made by subjecting a starch source to acid hydrolysis, followed by a hydrothermal treatment which is preferably heat-moisture treatment. The boiling-stable granular resistant starch product may be used in fromulating low-fat, high-fiber food products, as a tabletting aid, and as an inhibitor of excessive ice crystal formation in frozen products.

Abstract: An insole and a method for relieving bottom-of-heel pain (ie. plantar heel pain) and/or arch pain associated with bottom-of-heel pain is described.

Abstract: A process for producing a conductive supported yarn includes melt spinning non-conductive nylon filaments into a first set of filaments, separating at least one of the filaments from the freshly spun first set into a second set of filaments, providing the second set of filaments to a suffusion coating process so that the suffusion coated second set has a resistivity of between about 10.sup.6 and about 10.sup.9 .OMEGA./cm, and then recombining the first set and the second set to form a supported yarn.