Advancing Breathability of Respiratory Nanofilter by Optimizing Pore Structure and Alignment in Nanofiber Networks.

Respiratory masks are the primary and most effective means of protecting individuals from airborne hazards such as droplets and particulate matter during public engagements. However, conventional electrostatically charged melt-blown microfiber masks typically require thick and dense membranes to achieve high filtration efficiency, which in turn cause a significant pressure drop and reduce breathability. In this study, we have developed a multielectrospinning system to address this issue by manipulating the pore structure of nanofiber networks, including the use of uniaxially aligned nanofibers created via an electric-field-guided electrospinning apparatus.

First report of structural characteristics and polymorphisms of the prion protein gene in raccoon dogs: The possibility of prion disease-resistance.

Prion diseases are fatal degenerative encephalopathies caused by misfolded prion protein (PrP) converted from normal prion protein (PrP). Previous studies have reported that genetic polymorphisms of the prion protein gene () play a critical role in susceptibility to prion diseases. In addition, prion disease-resistant animals showed unique structural features of prion protein (PrP) related to species-specific amino acids.

Direct Visualization of Cross-Sectional Strain Distribution in Flexible Devices.

For flexible devices that inevitably undergo repetitive deformations, it is important to evaluate and control the mechanical strain imposed on the flexible systems for enhancing the reliability. In this paper, a novel experimental method to directly visualize cross-sectional strain distribution in the thin flexible devices is proposed. Digital image correlation (DIC) is effectively adapted by using microscopic images of the cross section for accurate analysis of the microscale deformations.