Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rubber composition comprising a diene based elastomer comprising a functional group selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, primary amine, and secondary amine; and a binding agent selected from the group consisting of water-dispersible resin, polyelectrolytes, and polypeptides. The invention is further directed to a pneumatic tire including the rubber composition, and a method of increasing the green strength in a rubber composition.

Abstract: A user interface for a virtual world controls and allows registering new characters and also registering achievement when the user has carried out a number of different items.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a copolymer comprising: a polymeric backbone chain derived from a monomer comprising at least one conjugated diolefin monomer and optionally at least one vinyl aromatic monomer; and a polymeric side-chain bonded exclusively to a terminal end of the backbone chain, the side-chain comprising a polymer derived from a monomer having a hydrogen bond donor moiety and a hydrogen bond acceptor moiety.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a copolymer comprising: a polyisoprene backbone chain with a microstructure comprising grater than 98 percent by weight of cis 1,4 linkages; and polymeric sidechains bonded to the backbone chain, the sidechains comprising a polymer derived from a monomer having a hydrogen bond donor site and a hydrogen bond acceptor site.

Abstract: A communication system including a plurality of horn antennas, a waveguide feed network, and a converter unit coupled to the plurality of horn antennas is disclosed. The waveguide feed network is coupled to each horn antenna, splits an information signal into a first component signal having a first polarization and a second component signal having a second polarization and provides a first summed component signal at a first feed port and a second summed component signal at a second feed port. The converter unit receives the first summed component signal and the second summed component signal and compensates for polarization skew between the antenna array and a source.

Abstract: Provided is an implement that has a handle adapted to be positioned on a user's hand such that the user's hand goes through the handle. The handle has an aperture that is adapted to accept a user's hand. The implement of the present invention may have a wide variety of implements as described herein. Particular implements include, for example, personal care implements such as, eating utensils, a toothbrush or a hair care implement, such as, a hairbrush or comb.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods for treating breast cancer. Specifically, the invention relates to administering a Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGF?) antagonist in combination with capecitabine and ixabepilone to treat breast cancer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of making a copolymer, comprising the steps of at least partially epoxidizing a polyisoprene to produce an epoxidized polyisoprene; reacting the epoxidized polyisoprene with a dithiol to produce a thiol functionalized polyisoprene; and reacting the thiol functionalized polyisoprene with a thiolophile-functionalized polymer derived from a monomer having a hydrogen bond donor site and hydrogen bond acceptor site to form the copolymer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a copolymer comprising: a polyisoprene backbone chain with a microstructure comprising grater than 98 percent by weight of cis 1,4 linkages; and polymeric sidechains bonded to the backbone chain, the sidechains comprising a polymer derived from a monomer having a hydrogen bond donor site and a hydrogen bond acceptor site.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a copolymer comprising: a polymeric backbone chain derived from a monomer comprising at least one conjugated diolefin monomer and optionally at least one vinyl aromatic monomer; and a polymeric side-chain bonded exclusively to a terminal end of the backbone chain, the side-chain comprising a polymer derived from a monomer having a hydrogen bond donor moiety and a hydrogen bond acceptor moiety.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising at least one component, the at least one component comprising a polymer blend comprising a copolymer and an additional polymer, the copolymer comprising: a polymeric backbone chain derived from a monomer comprising at least one conjugated diene monomer and optionally at least one vinyl aromatic monomer; and polymeric sidechains bonded to the backbone chain, the sidechains comprising a polymer immiscible with the backbone; the additional polymer consisting of a polymer miscible with the polymeric sidechains.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of making a functionalized elastomer, comprising the steps of polymerizing at least one diene monomer and optionally a vinyl aromatic monomer in the presence of an initiator of formula (II) to produce a protected hydroxyl end-terminated polymer where R1, R2, R3 can all be the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of alkyls having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, cycloalkyls having from 3 to 11 carbon atoms, or aryls having from 6 to 14 carbon atoms, R4 is an alkylene having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, a cycloalkylene having from 3 to 11 carbon atoms, or an arylene having from 6 to 14 carbon atoms, X is S, O or NH, and Li is lithium; de-protecting the protected hydroxyl end-terminated elastomer to produce a hydroxyl end-functionalized polymer; reacting the hydroxyl end-funtionalized polymer with a maleimido acid chloride to produce a maleimido end-functionalized polymer; and reacting the maleimido end-functionalized polymer with a thiol-terminated

Abstract: A system and method to provide medical record access to existing vendor centric and legacy networks by way of a pass-through mechanism that can process multiple disparate digital credentials and encryption algorithms. The system and method utilize a health information exchange (HIE). The HIE comprises a plurality of nodes which are configured to connect to any node via a traditional wired network or wirelessly, wherein each node comprises a server and a communication gateway. Communicating with the HIE are a plurality of entities, wherein each entity has a server functionally connected to a communications gateway configured to communicate with the HIE.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising at least one component, the at least one component comprising a polymer blend comprising a copolymer and an additional polymer, the copolymer comprising: a polymeric backbone chain derived from a monomer comprising at least one conjugated diene monomer and optionally at least one vinyl aromatic monomer; and polymeric sidechains bonded to the backbone chain, the sidechains comprising a polymer immiscible with the backbone; the additional polymer consisting of a polymer miscible with the polymeric sidechains.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a polymer blend comprising a first polymer and a second polymer, the first polymer comprising: a polymeric backbone chain derived from a monomer comprising at least one conjugated diene monomer and optionally at least one vinyl aromatic monomer; and polymeric sidechains bonded to the backbone chain, the sidechains comprising a polymer immiscible with the backbone; the second polymer consisting of a polymer miscible with the polymeric sidechains.

Abstract: A user interface for a virtual world includes a circular area forming a display for an item in the virtual world, and controls surrounding only a portion of the display for controlling that item.

Abstract: The invention provides materials and methods relating to antibodies specific for a soluble form of CTLA-4 (sCLTA-4). Such antibodies have been shown to have a strong boosting effect on antigen-specific human immune responses.

Abstract: A thermal fluid system modeler including a plurality of individual components. A solution vector is configured and ordered as a function of one or more inlet dependencies of the plurality of individual components. A fluid flow simulator simulates thermal energy being communicated with the flowing fluid and between first and second components of the plurality of individual components. The simulation extends from an initial time to a later time step and bounds heat transfer to be substantially between the flowing fluid, walls of tubes formed in each of the individual components of the plurality, and between adjacent tubes. Component parameters of the solution vector are updated with simulation results for each of the plurality of individual components of the simulation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber composition and its preparation having a crosslink distribution, particularly at least two types of crosslinks, its preparation, and an article of manufacture, including a tire, having a component of such rubber composition. In one embodiment, such crosslink distribution relates to an inclusion in the rubber composition of an additive to promote the crosslink distribution where the additive itself has a part of the desired crosslink characteristics. The crosslink distribution can be random or in the nature of a gradient change between domains of different crosslinks.

Abstract: Embodiments of an electronic circuit comprise a module, such as a security module, configured to perform cryptographic processing for a predetermined security protocol that includes random number checking. The security module is controlled by a descriptor that includes instructions that cause the security module to access a generated random number, compare the generated random number to a random number stored during a previous execution of the descriptor, and generate an error signal when the generated random number and the previous execution random number are equal.