Abstract: A duodenal insert (20) comprises an elongated open-ended tube (22) having a passageway that extends from a first end (24) to a second end (26) for transporting partially digested food materials from the stomach (6) for a predetermined distance below the stomach to interrupt or reduce the intermixing of digestive fluids with the partially digested food materials. The duodenal insert is anchored within a pylorus (10) by a pair of spaced apart first and second rings (32 and 34) in a seated and sandwiched arrangement with the pylorus. Bores (38) and splits (40) are optionally disposed through the open-ended tube to provide the digestive fluids controlled access to the interior of the duodenal insert.

Abstract: A method of increasing tire life of paired vehicular tires by measuring a plurality of mounted and inflated pneumatic tires to provide an indication of the tread diameter and/or circumference length of each tire with an indicated accuracy of at least about 0.020 inch on diameter or at least about 0.062 inch on circumference length and then selecting a pair of the measured tires whose indication of tread diameter differs by no more than about 0.040 inch or whose indication of circumference length differs by no more than about 0.125 inch for mounting on the vehicle as a matched pair. The invention also encompasses the apparatus for making such measurements.