Abstract: The invention relates to fragments of the DAXX and FADD proteins that inhibit cell apoptosis, in particular cell apoptosis mediated by the Fas receptor. The invention also relates to derivatives of said anti-apoptotic fragments, conjugates comprising said fragments, pharmaceutical compositions comprising said fragments, and to the medical applications of said fragments, derivatives, conjugates, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof in the treatment or prevention of diseases and conditions associated with apoptosis.

Abstract: A tire tread is provided having a layered design that includes bridged and unbridged circumferential grooves during earlier stages of tread life while transverse and unbridged circumferential grooves are provided at later stages of tread life. Together, the combination of grooves can provide desired wet adherence performance without unacceptable compromises of tread wear and/or rolling resistance. Pockets can also be provided at the end of the transverse grooves to increase the volume available for receipt of water during wet traction.

Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. More particularly, a non-pneumatic tire having a reinforcement structure with one or more spacers is provided along with a method of placement of a spacer between reinforcing bands of a non-pneumatic tire. A jig can be used to facilitate placement of the spacer.

Abstract: The invention includes a retread tire and methods and apparatus for its manufacture, the retread tire including: a tire carcass having a bonding surface arranged along a base layer, the base layer being positioned between the bonding surface and a belt reinforcement package and including at least one base groove open to the bonding surface and a thickness that is variable and asymmetrical; a bonding layer having a thickness that is variable and asymmetrical; and a precured tread band bonded to the tire carcass, the precured tread band comprising a back face bonded to the bonding layer, a front face forming a ground-engaging surface and at least one tread groove extending through at least a portion of the tread band thickness and the back face having a discontinuity associated with the at least one tread groove, which is aligned with one of the at least one base groove.

Abstract: A portable electric power tool including a housing (10) with a connection terminal (20) for connection of a voltage supply source (22), an electric motor (14), an onboard operation control unit (16) and a radio communication device(17) for communicating tool operation and operation result data between the operation control (16) unit and a stationary data processing unit (18), and a back-up voltage accumulating device (25) arranged to keep up continuously a voltage supply to the control unit (16) and a radio communication device (17) at disconnection of the voltage supply source (22).

Abstract: Embodiments include methods for retreading a tire, which include providing a tire carcass for retreading, the tire carcass having a pre-existing tread layer including one or more voids extending into the tread layer thickness from an outer side. A bonding layer is applied along an outer side of the pre-existing tread layer, the bonding layer substantially filling the voids arranged along the outer side of the pre-existing tread layer to provide an outer surface for receiving the pre-cured bonding layer. A pre-cured tread layer is applied along an outer side of the bonding layer such that the bonding layer is arranged between the pre-cured tread layer and the pre-existing tread layer. The pre-cured tread layer is bonded to the tire carcass to form a retreaded tire having are treaded tire tread. Grooves are then formed in the retreaded tire tread along a ground-engaging, outer side of the retreaded tire tread.

Abstract: Pneumatic tire comprising a composite reinforcer (R-2) that is self-adhesive by curing to a diene rubber matrix, comprising: one or more reinforcing thread(s) (20), for example a carbon steel cord; covering said thread, individually each thread or collectively several threads, a layer of a thermoplastic polymer composition comprising on the one hand a thermoplastic polymer, the glass transition temperature of which is positive, on the other hand an unsaturated thermoplastic stirene elastomer, the glass transition temperature of which is negative.

Abstract: Systems and methods of determining tire load from measured tire parameters include using a piezoelectric based sensor to obtain one or more contact patch parameters (e.g., contact patch entry time, contact patch exit time total contact patch time and contact patch angle) and one or more additional sensors to obtain tire pressure. Selected contact patch parameter measurements and pressure values are then compared with known combinations of contact patch parameter values and pressure values stored in a look-up table. A corresponding determined tire load value is then provided as electronic output.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and methodology for synchronizing data received at a central location that has been collected at plural remote locations and separately transmitted to the central location. A plurality of remote sensors is provided and configured to be simultaneously triggered to begin a data collection sequence and to subsequently transmit the collected data along with remote sensor identification data and timing information to the central location. Timing information may include a specifically transmitted time reference or may be derived based on successive transmissions from the individual remote sensors.

Abstract: An inflatable article is provided with a layer impermeable to inflation gases. The layer has an elastomer composition that includes at least, as a predominant elastomer by weight, a thermoplastic styrene (TPS) elastomer and a platy filler. The platy filler has an equivalent diameter (Dv (0.5)) of between 20 and 45 micrometers, and has a shape factor (F) greater than 65.

Abstract: The problem addressed by the present invention is to provide a high heat-resistant phthalocyanine. The phthalocyanine is separated by mixing a phthalocyanine separation solvent and a phthalocyanine solution wherein a phthalocyanine starting material is dissolved in a solvent. THe phthalocyanine is wherein having high heat resistance, the decomposition temperature of the separated phthalocyanine being at least 10° C. higher than the decomposition temperature of the phthalocyanine starting material. Also, the phthalocyanine solution may be the result of dissolving at least two types of phthalocyanine starting material in the solvent, the separated phthalocyanine being wherein containing a solid solvent of the at least two types of phthalocyanine starting material and by the decomposition temperature of the separated phthalocyanine being at least 10° C.

Abstract: A tyre, which has an improved grip on wet ground, includes a tread formed of at least a rubber composition. The rubber composition includes: from 50 to 100 phr of a copolymer based on styrene and butadiene, e.g., a styrene/butadiene copolymer (SBR), with phr referring to parts by weight per hundred parts of elastomer; from 100 to 150 phr of a reinforcing inorganic filler, e.g., silica; and a plasticizing system. The plasticizing system includes: a content A of between 10 and 60 phr of a thermoplastic hydrocarbon resin exhibiting a Tg of greater than 20° C.; and a content B of between 10 and 60 phr of a liquid plasticizing agent. A total content A+B is greater than 50 phr. Optionally, the rubber composition includes from 0 to 50 phr of another copolymer, e.g., a diene elastomer such as a polybutadiene or natural rubber.

Abstract: Composite reinforcer (R-2) that is self-adhesive, by curing, to a diene rubber matrix, which can be used as reinforcing element for a pneumatic tire, comprising: one or more reinforcing thread(s) (20), for example a carbon steel cord; a first layer (21) of a thermoplastic polymer, the glass transition temperature of which is positive, for example a polyamide, covering said thread, individually each thread or collectively several threads; a second layer (22) of a composition comprising a poly(p-phenylene ether) (“PPE”) and a functionalized diene elastomer bearing functional groups selected from epoxide, carboxyl, acid anhydride and acid ester groups, in particular an epoxidized SBR, covering the first layer (21). Process for manufacturing such a composite reinforcer and rubber article or semi-finished product, especially a pneumatic tire, incorporating such a composite reinforcer.

Abstract: A method for simulating the behavior of a tire mounted on a vehicle in running conditions on the ground, wherein a mechanical model is provided for essentially computing the longitudinal (Fx) and transverse (Fy) stresses transmitted by the tire between the ground and the vehicle in accordance with dynamic parameters related to the physical conditions of the tire running and use and in accordance with physical tire-specific parameters. The mechanical model is set and solved in an iterative manner, under the assumption that the tire in contact with the surface of the ground has an adherence contact area and a sliding contact area and under the assumption that there is a unique x-coordinate point b that is indicative of the transition between the two contact areas.

Abstract: A process for the wet drawing of a steel wire intended for reinforcing a pneumatic tire. The process starts from a steel wire having a diameter greater than 0.6 mm. The wire is drawn through a series of dies of decreasing diameter, in the presence of a lubricant composition that is in the form of an aqueous dispersion, down to a predetermined final diameter of less than 0.5 mm. The aqueous dispersion comprises solid particles of an ester of a fatty acid comprising from 5 to 40 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Fuel cell comprising a stack of bipolar plates (1) and polymer films (2), in which the polymer films comprise a lip (3) that overhangs on all sides relative to the adjacent bipolar plates (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a tire having a radial carcass reinforcement comprising a crown reinforcement formed of at least two working crown layers of reinforcement elements, which are crossed from one layer to the other, forming with the circumferential direction angles of between 10° and 45°, which itself is topped radially by a tread, said tread being joined to two beads by means of two sidewalls and the crown reinforcement comprising between two working crown plies at least one additional ply of reinforcement elements. According to the invention, the axial ends of the reinforcement element working ply radially closest to the carcass reinforcement are turned up to cover the axial ends of a working crown ply radially external to the additional ply.

Abstract: A method for inspecting a portion of a tyre surface involves comparison with an image of a three-dimensional (“3D”) reference surface. The method includes: extracting contours of graphic elements of an image of a 3D profile of a surface to be inspected; transforming the reference surface by establishing a correspondence between the contours of the graphic elements of the surface to be inspected and contours of identical graphic elements of the reference surface using a series of transformations; associating a B-spline surface, which includes control points, with the graphic elements of the transformed reference surface; and deforming the contours of the graphic elements of the reference surface by modifying positions of the control points of the B-spline surface so as to minimize distances between the contours of the graphic elements of the reference surface and the contours of the graphic elements of the surface to be inspected corresponding thereto.

Abstract: Circuits arranged to produce first and second outputs produced by first and second switch-mode converters, respectively, wherein each switch-mode converter comprises a converter input, a converter output, a converter controller, a converter controller enable input arranged to provide power to the controller, and a semiconductor power switching device coupled between the converter input and the converter controller. A first output of the first converter and a second output of the second converter are each arranged to produce a voltage of higher magnitude than the voltage at the respective converter controller enable input and converter input when the converter controller is enabled. Methods of controlling first and second outputs from first and second switch-mode converters are also disclosed.