What is claimed is:
1. For use with a transmission including an actuator for shifting the transmission and a first controller for issuing a command to the actuator to control a shifting operation of the transmission, an apparatus comprising:
a second controller for selecting a predetermined start gear higher than a lowest gear of a transmission when starting a vehicle.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second controller selects one start gear among a plurality of predetermined start gears.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second controller selects one start gear from two predetermined start gears, based on whether the vehicle tows another vehicle or not.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 further including a sensor for detecting the another vehicle, and wherein the second controller selects the one start gear from the two predetermined start gears based on detection result from the sensor.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the sensor determines whether the another vehicle is towed or not based on change in voltage or current of a signal issued to the another vehicle from the vehicle to illuminate a brake lamp of the another vehicle.
6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the sensor is a contact type or optical type switch mounted on the vehicle, and the another vehicle is mechanically coupled with the vehicle such that a certain portion of the another vehicle touches the switch when the another vehicle is towed by the vehicle, and the second controller selects the one start gear from the two predetermined start gears based on turning on and off of the switch.
7. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the vehicle is a tractor equipped with a diesel engine and the another vehicle is a trailer.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission has more than ten gear positions.
9. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the two predetermined start gears are fourth and ninth gears.
10. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a driver can decide the plurality of predetermined start gears.
11. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of predetermined start gears are prepared when a vehicle speed is zero and the transmission is in a neutral position.
12. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of predetermined start gears are prepared when a vehicle speed is zero, a brake pedal is depressed, an accelerator pedal is not depressed, the vehicle is stopped over a prescribed period, and the transmission is in a neutral position.
13. An apparatus for use with a transmission of a vehicle comprising:
means for storing at least one start gear position higher than a lowest gear of a transmission; and
means for selecting from the storing means one start gear.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the selecting means selects one start gear from two, based on whether a vehicle tows another vehicle or not.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14 further including means for detecting the another vehicle, and wherein the selecting means selects the one start gear from the two based on detection result from the detecting means.
16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the detecting means determines whether the another vehicle is towed or not based on change in voltage or current of a signal issued to the another vehicle from the vehicle.
17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the detecting means is a contact type or optical type switch mounted on the vehicle, and the another vehicle is mechanically coupled with the vehicle such that a certain portion of the another vehicle touches the switch when the another vehicle is towed by the vehicle, and the selecting means selects the one start gear from the two based on turning on and off of the switch.
18. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the vehicle is a tractor equipped with a diesel engine and the another vehicle is a trailer.
19. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a driver can decide the at least one start gear to be stored in the storing means.
20. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the at least one start gear is prepared when a vehicle speed is zero and the transmission is in a neutral position.
21. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the at least one start gear is prepared when a vehicle speed is zero, a brake pedal is depressed, an accelerator pedal is not depressed, the vehicle is stopped over a prescribed period, and the transmission is in a neutral position.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A method for determining disorders of iron metabolism comprising the determination of:
(i) a parameter which allows a determination of the total body iron stores,
(ii) a parameter which allows a determination of at least one of the erythropoietic maturation process and its activity, and
(iii) a parameter which allows a determination of unspecific disorders of iron metabolism.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the parameter (i) is at least one of erythrocyte ferritin, zinc protoporphyrin, haemoglobin, myoglobin, transferrin, transferrin saturation, ferritin, haemosiderin, catalase, peroxidase and cytochrome.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the parameter (ii) is at least one of erythrocyte indices, reticulocyte indices, FS-e (forward scatter erythrocytes) and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR).
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the parameter (iii) is at least one of acute phase proteins, regulators of acute phase protein synthesis and disorders of reticulocyte synthesis.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the acute phase proteins are selected from the group consisting of C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), 1-antichymotrypsin, acidic 1-glycoprotein, 1-antitrypsin, haptoglobin, fibrinogen, complement component C3, complement component C4 and coeruloplasmin.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein the regulators of acute phase protein synthesis are selected from the group consisting of interleukin 6 (IL-6), leukemia inhibiting factor (LIF), oncostatin M, interleukin 11 (IL-11), ciliary neurotropic factor (CNTF), interleukin 1 (IL-1), interleukin 1 (IL-1), tumour necrosis factor- (TNF), tumour necrosis factor- (TNF), insulin, fibroblast growth factor (FGF), hepatocyte growth factor, transgrowth factor (TGF) and interferon (INF).
7. The method of claim 4 wherein the disorders of reticulocyte synthesis are selected from the group consisting of reticulocyte count, Hb content of reticulocytes (CHr), immature reticulocyte fraction (IRF), new red blood cell (RBC) and reticulocyte fluorescence parameters, and forward scatter reticulocyte (FS-r).
8. The method of 1 wherein parameter (iii) is a haematological parameter.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the haematological parameter is CHr.
10. The method of claim 1 comprising a differential diagnosis.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the disorders of iron metabolism are classified.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the disorder is classified into one of the following groups:
(A) iron distribution disorders orand iron utilization disorders with acute phase reaction,
(B) iron overloading,
(C) normal iron status, and
(D) deficiency of storage iron.
13. A method of treating a patient suffering from a disorder of iron metabolism comprising
(i) determining the disorder of iron metabolism according to the method of claim 1, and
(ii) classifying the disorder of iron metabolism into one of the following groups:
(A) iron distribution disorders orand iron utilization disorders with acute phase reaction,
(B) iron overloading,
(C) normal iron status, and
(D) deficiency of storage iron.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the treatment further comprises an EPO therapy for patients classified in group (A), blood letting for patients classified in group (B), and iron substitution for patients classified in group (D).
15. The method of claim 14 further comprising monitoring progress and response to treatment using the method of determining the disorder of iron metabolism.
16. The method of claim 1 wherein the unspecific disorder of iron metabolism is a biochemical parameter.
17. The method of claim 1 further comprising the determination of (iv) a hematological parameter.
18. A test strip comprising means for performing a method according to claim 1.