Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods and devices to monitor, diagnose and/or treat diseases or disorders comprising a calibration phase and a real-time diagnostic, treatment or monitoring phase, the calibration phase correlating a plurality of nerve activity measurements from a chronically implanted electrode in a subject with a plurality of concurrent measurements of levels of cytokines and/or glucose in the blood to obtain a functional relationship between blood cytokine and/or glucose levels and vagus nerve activity, and the diagnostic, treatment or monitoring phase analyzing the subject's real-time vagus nerve activity in accordance with the previously obtained functional relationship to initiate a treatment method.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods and devices to monitor, diagnose and/or treat diseases or disorders comprising a calibration phase and a real-time diagnostic, treatment or monitoring phase, the calibration phase correlating a plurality of nerve activity measurements from a chronically implanted electrode in a subject with a plurality of concurrent measurements of levels of cytokines and/or glucose in the blood to obtain a functional relationship between blood cytokine and/or glucose levels and vagus nerve activity, and the diagnostic, treatment or monitoring phase analyzing the subject's real-time vagus nerve activity in accordance with the previously obtained functional relationship to initiate a treatment method.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for treating inflammation and sepsis and for promoting thermoregulation by activating neurons expressing TRPA1 in the vagus nerve.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the effect of a toxicant such as chlorine or potassium on bivalve molluscs such as zebra mussels. Application of serotonin or a serotonin agonist in low concentrations inhibits the mussels' ability to close their valves to protect themselves from the effect of any toxicants in the water. Thus administering serotonin or a serotonin agonist for a period of time, followed by administering a toxicant, substantially enhances the effect of the toxicant on the zebra mussels. Thus less of the toxicant need be administered to control zebra mussels. The concentration of serotonin needed to enhance toxicant control of exotic zebra mussels has been found to be at or below the threshold of serotonin activity on native bivalves, at least those native to the lower Mississippi River. Furthermore, serotonin is naturally degraded rapidly by aquatic microorganisms.

Abstract: A bursting machine is provided for separating discrete sheets from a continuous strip of sheets having uniformly spaced perforation lines across the width of the strip. A gauging device with numerical increments in the form of a linear scale is manually compared to the length of the discrete sheets to provide a predetermined number corresponding to a pulse count for entering into a control device through a manually settable device. The control device in turn is operatively connected to an electronic pulse counter. When the leading edge of the strip advances a predetermined increment after passing through a sensing device located downstream in the path of travel with respect to a first pair of feed rollers, a pulse generator attached to the driven first feed roller is actuated to generate pulses for counting to reach the preset number in the pulse counter.

Abstract: Sheet processing machinery including a bursting machine and a folding machine has a sheet conveying apparatus disposed there-between. The sheet conveying apparatus is pivotably mounted to allow service to an area adjacent to the input end of the following machine. A drive apparatus connected to the sheet processing machinery is disengaged to allow upward pivoting of the sheet conveying apparatus from a horizontal position to a retracted position, whereupon the service access may be achieved.

Abstract: A gauging system for an envelope inserter provides simplified set up procedures for adjustment of a set of enclosure pick-up station side guides, an envelope stop and coordinated adjustment of both a set of envelope station side guides and sets of stripper fingers. A panel at the face of the inserter includes a slot and a pointer for lengthwise insertion of an enclosure. The operator places a specimen enclosure against an index end of the slot and rotates a knob to frame the enclosure length between the index and the pointer. Rotation of the knob provides simultaneous movement of the pointer and adjustment of the enclosure side guides to correspond with the framed length. A further slot and pointer are provided for envelope widthwise insertion. Rotation of its knob for framing the envelope width simultaneously adjusts the envelope stop. A further slot and pointer are provided for lengthwise envelope insertion.

Abstract: Sheet processing apparatus including a bursting machine for feeding and bursting a continuous web along perforation lines, a folding machine for folding the sheets from the bursting machine and an inserting machine for inserting the folded sheets into an envelope, and [i] a device for removably connecting the bursting machine to the folding machine, [ii] a device for removably connecting the folding machine to the inserting machine and [iii] a device for removably connecting the bursting machine directly to the inserting machine in the absence of the folding machine; controls operatively interconnected between the inserting machine and the folding machine for controlling the sequential operation of the folding machine with the cyclical operation of the inserting machine so that the folding machine operates on demand from the inserting machine; controls operatively interconnected between the folding machine and the bursting machine for controlling the sequential operation of the bursting machine in timed relat

Abstract: An inserter is adapted to insert successive enclosures from a stack carried by an enclosure feeder assembly into envelopes carried by an envelope feeder assembly. Each feeder assembly includes a sloped tray and a pair of side guides which engage the ends of the stack of materials being fed. Both side guides are adjusted by releasing a tab adjacent one of the guides and sliding the guide. An endless belt mounted beneath the tray assures symmetrical displacement of both guides relative to the center of the tray. A feed wheel is carried along a drive shaft which extends transversely above the tray. The hub of the feed wheel includes a one way clutch which permits adjustment of the feed wheel position. A separator stone projecting from beneath the tray in staggered registration with the feed wheel includes a stone shield. Both the stone and the stone shield are adjustable through control knobs accessible at the front of the inserter.

Abstract: A gauging system for an envelope inserter provides simplified set up procedures for adjustment of a set of enclosure pick-up station side guides, an envelope stop and coordinated adjustment of both a set of envelope station side guides and sets of stripper fingers. A panel at the face of the inserter includes a slot and a pointer for lengthwise insertion of an enclosure. The operator places a specimen enclosure against an index end of the slot and rotates a knob to frame the enclosure length between the index and the pointer. Rotation of the knob provides simultaneous movement of the pointer and adjustment of the enclosure side guides to correspond with the framed length. A further slot and pointer are provided for envelope widthwise insertion. Rotation of its knob for framing the envelope width simultaneously adjusts the envelope stop. A further slot and pointer are provided for lengthwise envelope insertion.

Abstract: An articulate bridge assembly covers an enclosure transport pathway from an enclosure feeder through an enclosure pick-up station in a reciprocating ram type envelope inserter. The bridge includes a cover hinged along an axis parallel to the transport pathway. The horizontal and vertical planes of the cover are stabilized with reference to the inserter frame by spring mechanisms incorporated in the cover hinge assembly. A switch for detecting multiple enclosures in the pathway is mounted to the cover. To adjust the switch for various enclosure thicknesses, a knob at the face of the inserter is rotated. The knob advances a lead screw against a sloped surface of a pivot link. The pivot link in turn bears against a bracket assembly carrying the switch. The upper surface of the cover is planar and obstruction free, while a chassis is carried by the undersurface. Mounted to the chassis are skis which urge successive enclosures against transport belts.

Abstract: An inserter is adapted to insert successive enclosures from a stack carried by an enclosure feeder assembly into envelopes carried by an envelope feeder assembly. Each feeder assembly includes a sloped tray and a pair of side guides which engage the ends of the stack of materials being fed. Both side guides are adjusted by releasing a tab adjacent one of the guides and sliding the guide. An endless belt mounted beneath the tray assures symmetrical displacement of both guides relative to the center of the tray. A feed wheel is carried along a drive shaft which extends transversely above the tray. The hub of the feed wheel includes a one way clutch which permits adjustment of the feed wheel position. A separator stone projecting from beneath the tray in staggered registration with the feed wheel includes a stone shield. Both the stone and the stone shield are adjustable through control knobs accessible at the front of the inserter.

Abstract: In envelope stuffing apparatus which has an enclosure inserting station and includes a deck at the inserting station, structure for delivering the envelope in a path of travel to the inserting station, structure for opening the envelope and structure for inserting an enclosure into the envelope; and wherein the opening structure includes a ledge for supporting the flap of the envelope above the deck, and a first finger insertable into the envelope for stripping apart from each other the front and back panels of the envelope; there is provided an improvement in the envelope opening structure. The improvement comprises: a solenoid operable in response to delivery of the envelope to the inserting station; a second finger for depressing the envelope toward the deck against the resistance of the flap supporting ledge; and a linkage assembly.

Abstract: This invention relates to a sheet feeding and shingling apparatus wherein sheets are brought into an apparatus individually to be processed. The sheets are subsequently discharged from the apparatus with an overlapping relationship. This apparatus has utility in situations where sheets are individually processed, as for example in the making of copies, and must be shingled for the purpose of further handling.

Abstract: A top-of-stack sheet feeder includes a stack lifting apparatus which provides uniform stack pressure at the feeder as well as stack replenishment without interruption of feeder operation. The stack lifting apparatus includes a comblike feeding platform which incrementally elevates a feed stack to a feed roller which removes successive top sheets. Platform elevation control is responsive to requirement signals generated by a top sheet height sensor. When the stack is depleted to a predetermined reserve, a pair of opposed comblike feeding decks interfit between spaces in the feeding platform and assume the stack elevation function after which the platform descends to a loading station to receive a new stack and lift same to the decks. Upon introduction of the new stack, the decks disengage the reserve and index to a lower dwell station ready to again resume stack lifting when the combined stack reaches the reserve level.

Abstract: An arrangement for dampening vibrations in and lubricating the operative edges of a pair of cooperating sheet cutting discs. A block member having a surface comprised of a solid lubricant is yieldably biased so that said surface engages the face of one of the discs that is in operative engagement with a face of the other disc.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying tape, having adhesive on both of its faces, to a surface comprises an applicator drum having a cylindrical periphery that receives the tape and a series of slots extending transversely to the periphery. The applicator drum is mounted on a shaft which can be driven by a motor. The shaft is, in turn, mounted on a lever which can be pivoted by a solenoid to translate the drum toward and away from the surface. The tape is cut into discreet lengths on the drum by a knife which registers in interfitting engagement with each of the slots in the drum periphery when translated away from the surface. The solenoid and motor are synchronously operated to rotate the drum to put a length of tape in position for transfer to the surface, to translate the drum toward the surface to complete the transfer, and to translate the drum away from the surface to register the knife in interfitting engagement with a drum slot and thereby cut a next length of tape for subsequent transfer.