Scalable pilot production of highly efficient 5-ply respiratory masks enhanced by bacterial cellulose nanofibers.

This study presents the pilot-scale production of highly efficient real respiratory masks enhanced by bacterial cellulose nanofibers (BCNFs). The BCNFs suspension was deposited onto tissue paper substrates using fog spray technique with three BCNFs grammage levels of 0.5, 1, and 2 g/m, followed by freeze drying.

Soft Gripping Fingers Made of Multi-Stacked Dielectric Elastomer Actuators with Backbone Strategy.

Soft grippers, a rapidly growing subfield of soft robotics, utilize compliant and flexible materials capable of conforming to various shapes. This feature enables them to exert gentle yet, if required, strong gripping forces. In this study, we elaborate on the material selection and fabrication process of gripping fingers based on the dielectric elastomer actuation technique.

Soft octopus-inspired suction cups using dielectric elastomer actuators with sensing capabilities.

Bioinspired and biomimetic soft grippers are rapidly growing fields. They represent an advancement in soft robotics as they emulate the adaptability and flexibility of biological end effectors. A prominent example of a gripping mechanism found in nature is the octopus tentacle, enabling the animal to attach to rough and irregular surfaces.

Predicting Ultra-High-Performance Concrete Compressive Strength Using Tabular Generative Adversarial Networks.

There have been abundant experimental studies exploring ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) in recent years. However, the relationships between the engineering properties of UHPC and its mixture composition are highly nonlinear and difficult to delineate using traditional statistical methods. There is a need for robust and advanced methods that can streamline the diverse pertinent experimental data available to create predictive tools with superior accuracy and provide insight into its nonlinear materials science aspects.