Organized molecular films adsorbed several bio-materials have been prepared by Langmuir-Blodgett method using an organo-modified montmorillonite. In this method, organo-montmorillonite films play a template role of the lysozyme thin layer. Chemisorption of lysozyme to the anionic montmorillonite surface has supported by infrared spectra of multilayers. The bands of N-H bending and C=O stretching vibrations of lysozyme were clearly identified in the spectra of multilayers coated with chemisorbed lysozyme. The morphology of these film surfaces were observed by atomic force microscopy at mesoscopic scales. In the case of organo-modified montmorillonite adsorbed protease, it is also indicated that activity of chemisorbed protease was maintained up to 160 ℃ of annealing temperature. The thickness of the enzyme layer was also maintained. This conservation of steric structure of enzyme is ascribable to the formation of aggregate of adsorbed enzyme on the montmorillonite surface and the construction of sandwiched structure of enzyme between organo-montmorillonite.

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Techniques for analyzing the composition of animal hair fibers in textiles are very important to guarantee the quality of animal hair yarns and fabrics. We have recently developed new methods based on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectroscopy in order to identify the animal species from the hair fibers. In this study, we assigned the animal species-specific peaks by tandem mass (MS/MS) analysis. We prepared cashmere-wool and cashmere-yak standard samples and observed very good linearity between the composition and the peak area ratio. The quantitative method was validated using nine blind-test samples containing known contents of cashmere, wool, and yak. The method was also validated by measuring various samples containing cashmere and other animal hair fibers, natural fibers and chemical fibers and by comparing the results with those obtained by optical microscopy.

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A high performance antimicrobial paper was fabricated using composite of sugar cane bagasse pith and burned scallop particles with sugar cane bagasse pulp. The paper that was fabricated without degassing the composite pith had higher the scallop particle concentration on the top of surface displayed a greater value of anti-bacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus than paper prepared that were mixed with degassing the composite pith and only mixed with scallop particle after 30minutes of cultivation. However the bagasse pulp and pith had antimicrobial activity as well as the scallop particle, the activity was not constant. The paper that was fabricated without degassing the composite pith had the stable activity and the quick effect.

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This study aimed to clarify the impact on the body of contemporary styles of wearing traditional Japanese KIMONO, assessing body sway, surface electromyography, salivary amylase activity, and clothing pressure in a survey sample of eight healthy young women. Four wearing patterns were compared: (1) without an OBI (KIMONO sash) (2) with an OBI in position 1 (under the bust) (3) with an OBI in position 2 (at the waist) and (4) with an OBI in position 3 (at the ilium). With each of these patterns, the subjects stood, sat, stood and bent forward, sat and bent forward, and stood on one foot (Japanese classic movement; ISSOKUDACHI). The findings showed that body trunk stability was higher and posture straighter when wearing an OBI than when not. However, with OBI position 2 (not a style actually in use), muscular activity was inhibited during movement and stress levels were high. With OBI position 1, the style actually practiced by contemporary women, muscular activity during movement was aided by the OBI, but clothing pressure impacted the front of the body and stress levels were high. It was demonstrated that OBI position 3, the style in use among men, provides benefits in terms of stabilizing the body trunk, straightening posture, and alleviating muscle load during movement, as well as low stress levels.

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