Alec Archer isn’t just a superhero... he’s a survivor. * He’s survived being harpooned by the megalomaniacal captain of a steampunk airship. * He’s escaped being drowned by a sex-crazed mermaid. * He’s narrowly avoided being reduced to a glowing pile of mush by a radioactive grandma. * Even Kryptonite probably couldn’t hurt him. (His inability to think before he opens his mouth, on the other hand, will probably get him killed.) By day, Alec is the owner of a successful male escort service, living an idyllic life with a husband he adores. By night, Alec is the only man strong enough, fast enough, and svelte enough to reluctantly squeeze into the skintight turquoise mantle of the superhero known as the Whirlwind. No matter how many supervillains choose Centerport to kick-off their crazy schemes of mass destruction and world domination, the Whirlwind will always be there to defeat them. And he will always look fabulous in tights!

Elastic garments have tremendous scope in the field of tight-fit sportswear and healthcare applications. Research towards improvement in the elasticity of fibre, yarn, and fabrics and development in testing methods for elastic garments is the current requirement for the industrial product development. This book covers elastane fibres, elastane yarn and fabric production methods, new attempts in yarn production, commercial ways of fabric-manufacturing techniques and the fabric properties, new testing methods to test the elastic products, and applications of elastic garments in sports and healthcare. Features: Provides comprehensive review, process, and application of elastane fibres. Covers detailed information about manufacturing and testing methods of elastane fabrics. Reviews technical aspects of elastane in sportswear and healthcare. Discusses evaluation process for the elastane fabric performance. Defines production methods of woven and knitted fabrics using elastane. This book is aimed at students and researchers in textile engineering/technology, textile design, human ecology and comfort, material engineering, sports sciences, medical science, and healthcare engineering.

"The Anthropology of Stuff" is part of a new Series dedicated to innovative, unconventional ways to connect undergraduate students and their lived concerns about our social world to the power of social science ideas and evidence. Our goal with the project is to help spark social science imaginations and in doing so, new avenues for meaningful thought and action. Each "Stuff" title is a short (100 page) "mini text" illuminating for students the network of people and activities that create their material world. Lycra describes the development of a specific fabric, but in the process provides students with rare insights into U.S. corporate history, the changing image of women in America, and how a seemingly doomed product came to occupy a position never imagined by its inventors and contained in the wardrobe of virtually every American. And it will generate lively discussion of the story of the relationship between technology, science and society over the past half a century.

A fun look at the thriving UK professional wrestling scene, and how it's reviving itself for a smart, sceptical 21st-century audience after the World of Sport glory days were tarnished when fans found out that &“it's not real&”. Carrie Dunn talks to some of the top British wrestlers, some of them now international stars, and finds out about their careers, what motivates them to risk their necks on a weekly basis, and their dreams of mainstream fame. They reveal what really happens behind the scenes at shows and training schools, and how they balance their dangerous part-time job with family life and &– in most cases &– a 9-to-5 job that pays the bills. She asks promoters what they believe their audiences want to see, about the sport's resurgence, uncertain finances and turf wars. And she talks to the scene's hardcore fans about wrestling's chances of a return to prime-time TV.

Handbook of Stretchable and Elastomeric Textiles is a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know about elastomeric textiles, including manufacturing techniques, physical properties, processing methods, and in-use care. All types of stretchable textiles are covered, including polymers, fibers, yarns, fabrics and composites. Starting with the fundamentals of the synthesis, properties and processing of elastomeric materials, this book goes on to help the reader choose the most appropriate parameters for manufacturing and processing, as well as the best elastomeric material according to specific end use applications. In general, elastomeric textiles are difficult to handle. During the manufacturing of elastomeric fabric, the handling of yarns is complicated. In addition, the processing stage is also challenging due to the heat sensitivity of the materials that affects how they are dyed, printed, washed and dried. The specific techniques required to produce a successful elastomeric textile have been developed over many years, hence this expertise is hard to come by. - Provides foundational knowledge on the polymeric structure of elastomeric fibers - Explains how various materials can be used to prepare elastomeric fibers - Addresses how elastomerics are being used in wearables and smart textile technologies

Experimental Mechanics of Composite, Hybrid, and Multifunctional Materials, Volume 7 of the Proceedings of the 2015SEM Annual Conference& Exposition on Experimental and Applied Mechanics, the seventh volume of nine from the Conference, brings together contributions to this important area of research and engineering. The collection presents early findings and case studies on a wide range of areas, including: Multifunctional Materials Hybrid Materials Novel Composites Nano- and Particle-Reinforced Composites Additive Manufacturing of Composites Digital Imaging of Composites Damage Detection Non-Destructive Evaluation Fatigue and Fracture of Composites Manufacturing and Joining of Composites Advanced Composites Applications

For the past decade, the rapid development of the ergonomics disciplines as well as the fast growing economy in the Asian region have been attracting the attention of the international ergonomics community. Although East Asia has been changing from a traditional agriculture-oriented society into a modern industry-oriented society and its economy covers a great deal of shared interests across the continents, yet the ergonomics related knowledge and practice are still in its infancy. Because of the geographic proximity and a strong historical, cultural and technology affinity, it is vitally important to maintain good communication and cooperation among the individuals as well as among the ergonomics organizations in the region. This symposium, EAEFS, has provided supporting ergonomics organizations and interested participants a forum to exchange ideas, build friendship, foster greater understanding of and among these individuals and organizations, and develop perspectives concerning ergonomics issues in this region and beyond. This volume contains the selected papers presented at the Second East Asian Ergonomics Federation Symposium (EAEFS), held from October 4 - 8, 2011 at the National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan. The Second EAEFS, endorsed by the International Ergonomics Association (IEA), aims to consolidate the established ties within East Asia and to extend the cooperation among ergonomics researchers, professionals, and practitioners in the region to other regions in Asia and the world. Senior scholars and leaders from Asian countries have shared their wisdom, experience, insights, and visions on past, current and future ergonomics efforts in Asia. The papers contributing to this book address the latest research and application in accordance with the theme of the symposium, "Ergonomics in Asia: Development, Opportunities and Challenges," and cover the following areas: Virtual Environments & Design, Aging & Work Ability, Usability & Interface, Biomechanics & Anthropometry, and Occupational Safety & Health.