Abstract: A method of manufacturing an engineered composite textile includes winding a yarn across a winding jig to form a plurality of yarn strands extending across the winding jig, stacking the winding jig with the plurality of yarn strands onto a base textile; and digitally printing a polymeric bonding material in a predetermined pattern across the plurality of yarn strands to bond the yarn strands to the base textile to create an engineered composite textile.

Abstract: A method of creating an engineered textile includes placing a yarn-wound jig on an upper surface of a substrate, selectively printing or extruding a bonding material across the plurality of arranged yarn strands, solidifying the bonding material to bond adjacent ones of the plurality of arranged yarn strands together and form a bound plurality of arranged yarn strands, and removing the bound plurality of arranged yarn strands from the substrate and the frame.

Abstract: Aspects herein relate to systems and methods to manipulate the distribution of microwave and/or heat energy within a mold chamber retaining a part to be foamed. The chamber may be constructed of a combination of materials with one or more dielectric properties that allow different microwave frequencies to be absorbed, transmitted or reflected in order to obtain a desired distribution of microwave and heat energy within the chamber. A solid-state microwave energy source is combined with a frequency synthesizer to customize the microwave energy being transmitted, and a press may be used to apply pressure to the material within the mold during the manufacturing process. A thermoplastic polymer may be introduced into the mold chamber in the form of a plurality of pellets, granules, beads, or other discrete elements, or in the form of a preform.

Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear includes a fixed closure disposed on one of a medial side and a lateral side of the upper, a plurality of parallel first strands each extending from a first end attached to the other one of the medial side and the lateral side of the upper to a second end attached the other one of the medial side and the lateral side and including a first intermediate portion formed between the first end and the second end, and a plurality of parallel second strands each extending from a third end attached to the one of the medial side and the lateral side of the upper to a fourth end selectively attachable to the fixed closure. The second strands are looped around the first intermediate portion of respective ones of the first strands.

Abstract: An engineered textile includes a plurality of yarn strands with a subset extending in a substantially parallel and spaced arrangement and a bonding material extending across the plurality of yarn strands. The bonding material encapsulates a portion of each yarn strand to bond adjacent ones of the plurality of yarn strands together.

Abstract: A method of creating an engineered textile includes placing a yarn-wound jig on an upper surface of a substrate, selectively printing or extruding a bonding material across the plurality of arranged yarn strands, solidifying the bonding material to bond adjacent ones of the plurality of arranged yarn strands together and form a bound plurality of arranged yarn strands, and removing the bound plurality of arranged yarn strands from the substrate and the frame.

Abstract: A method for quantifying an amount of a viable microorganism includes subjecting a fluid sample suspected of containing a viable microorganism to a temperature change, and correlating the temperature history of the fluid sample to the amount of the viable microorganism contained in the fluid sample. The method may include the steps of bringing, the fluid sample to a first temperature, and transferring the fluid sample to a second temperature that is different than the first temperature. After the step of transferring, next is the step of measuring a temperature change in the fluid sample over a predetermined period of time. The temperature change may then be correlated to the amount of the viable microorganism contained in the fluid sample. The method finds use in a variety of applications, including evaluation of compositions or compounds potentially having microbicidal, microbiostatic, or growth enhancing properties.