Abstract: The present invention describes methods of retarding the development of visceral and somatic hypersensitivities in an individual. Further, the present invention describes a potentially important role for the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) in initiation and maintenance of the chronic visceral hypersensitivity and its role in development of irritable bowel syndrome.

Abstract: A piston assembly comprising a piston reciprocally movable along an axis and including a generally cylindrical outer surface having therein a circumferentially extending groove partially defined by a surface having therein a recess, and a piston ring located in the groove and including a lower surface extending generally perpendicularly to the axis, a first arcuate segment having an upper surface inclined radially inwardly and downwardly and having a maximum thickness and a radially inwardly decreasing thickness, and a second arcuate segment extending into the recess and having a substantially constant thickness across the radial extent thereof, the constant thickness being substantially equal to the maximum thickness.

Abstract: A lost foam pattern including a first lost foam piece having a tapered inner surface defining an indentation, and a second lost foam piece received in the indentation and having a tapered outer surface in frictional engagement with the tapered inner surface, the first lost foam piece and second lost foam piece being fixedly connected solely by virtue of the frictional engagement.

Abstract: A machine for assembling lost foam pattern sections. The machine has an upper retainer for holding an upper pattern section in a generally horizontal position with the surfaces to be glued facing downwardly to be contacted by a glue plate having a raised configuration depicting the glue pattern desired on the to-be-glued surfaces of the upper section. The machine provides for application of glue to the glue plate prior to moving the glue plate into contact with the upper section to transfer glue to the upper section. A lower retainer for a lower pattern section is moved into contact with the upper section long enough for the glue to set.

Abstract: A fixture for assisting in positioning the end cap of a connecting rod relative to the remainder of the rod, which fixture comprises a frame including a gauge portion having spaced ends, a first pair of angularly related wedge surfaces at one end of the gauge portion, and a handle portion extending from the other end of the gauge portion, a subframe carried by the frame for movement toward and away from the first pair of wedge surfaces and including a second pair of angularly related wedge surfaces located in spaced facing relation to the first pair of wedge surfaces, and means on the subframe and on the frame for moving the subframe relative to the first pair of wedge surfaces.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for uniformly feeding particulate matter into a carrier gas, which apparatus includes a particulate matter inlet duct communicating with a carrier gas conduit, a device for introducing into the conduit upstream of the inlet duct, a flow of carrier gas which is maintained under constant pressure prior to introduction, a particulate matter pump communicating with the inlet duct and operable at a variable pumping rate to supply particulate matter through the inlet duct to the conduit, a device for sensing the pressure in the conduit, and a control connected to the pressure sensing means for varying the pumping rate of the pump in accordance with pressure variation in the conduit to maintain a uniform feed of particulate matter into the carrier gas flowing in the conduit.