What is claimed is:
1. A composition comprising a hydrocarbon polymer having {overscore (M)}n ranging from 20,000 to about 500,000, when the polymer is not a star polymer, and up to about GPC peak molecular weight of 4,000,000 when the polymer is a star polymer, having attached thereto pendant groups Aa and Bb wherein each A is independently selected from members of the group consisting of:
groups of the formula
25
wherein R3 is H or hydrocarbyl, R4 is a divalent hydrocarbylene group, n0 or 1, and each of R9 and R10 is independently H, alkoxyhydrocarbyl, hydroxyhydrocarbyl, hydrocarbyl, aminohydrocarbyl, N-alkoxyalkyl- or hydroxyalkyl-substituted aminohydrocarbyl, or a group of the formula YcR11M, wherein each Y is independently a group of the formula
26
each R11 is a divalent hydrocarbyl group, R12 is as defined above for R9 and R10, and M is H, hydrocarbyl, amino, OH, an amide group, an amide-containing group, an acylamino group, an imide group, a heterocyclic group, an imide-containing group, or SR wherein R is H or hydrocarbyl, and c is 0 or a number ranging from 1 to about 100, or one of R9 and R10 taken together with the adjacent N constitute a NN group; and each B is independently selected from members of the group of formula:
27
wherein each X is independently O, S, or NRb, each Rb is independently H, NH2, hydrocarbyl, hydroxy-hydrocarbyl or aminohydrocarbyl, and each Z is independently a group of the formula
28
wherein each of R3, R4, and n is as defined hereinabove;
Ra is an ethylene group, a propylene group, which groups optionally have hydrocarbyl or hydroxyhydrocarbyl substituents, or
29
wherein J is H, SH, NH2, or OH, and tautomers thereof; the subscript a is 0 or a number ranging from 1 to about 50 and the subscript b is a number ranging from 1 to about 30.
2. The composition of claim 1 further comprising hydrocarbon based groups having molecular weights ranging from about 100 to less than 20,000 having attached thereto from 0 up to about 10 groups A and from 1 to about 10 groups B.
3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the hydrocarbon polymer onto which are attached groups A and B is derived from at least one olefinically unsaturated hydrocarbon polymer selected from the group consisting of:
(1) polymers of dienes;
(2) copolymers of conjugated dienes with vinyl substituted aromatic compounds;
(3) polymers of aliphatic olefins having from 2 to about 28 carbon atoms;
(4) olefin-diene copolymers; and
(5) star polymers.
4. The composition of claim 2 comprising from about 1% to about 50% by weight of hydrocarbon based groups having molecular weight ranging from about 100 to less than 20,000.
5. The composition of claim 3 wherein the hydrocarbon polymer is (1) a hydrogenated polymer of dienes, wherein the diene comprises a conjugated diene selected from the group consisting of isoprene, butadiene, and piperylene.
6. The composition of claim 3 wherein the hydrocarbon polymer is (2) a hydrogenated copolymer of a conjugated diene with a vinyl substituted aromatic compound, wherein the vinyl substituted aromatic compound is a styrenic compound.
7. The composition of claim 6 wherein the conjugated diene is selected from the group consisting of isoprene, butadiene, and piperylene.
8. The composition of claim 7 wherein the diene is selected from the group consisting of isoprene and 1,3-butadiene and the styrenic compound is styrene or a styrene having one or two lower alkyl group ring substituents.
9. The composition of claim 8 wherein the hydrocarbon polymer is a block copolymer.
10. The composition of claim 3 wherein the hydrocarbon polymer is (3) a polymer of aliphatic olefins having from 2 to about 28 carbon atoms, wherein the aliphatic olefins comprise alpha-olefins.
11. The composition of claim 10 wherein the polymer is a copolymer and the alpha-olefins comprise ethylene and at least one C3-28 alpha olefin.
12. The composition of claim 11 wherein the hydrocarbon polymer is an ethylene-propylene copolymer.
13. The composition of claim 10 wherein the aliphatic olefin comprises a butene.
14. The composition of claim 3 wherein the hydrocarbon polymer is (4) an olefin-diene copolymer wherein the olefin comprises alpha olefins.
15. The composition of claim 14 wherein the olefin comprises ethylene and propylene and the diene is a non-conjugated diene.
16. The composition of claim 15 wherein the diene is selected from the group consisting of 1,4-hexadiene, dicyclopentadiene, ethylidene norbornene, vinyl norbornene, and 4-vinyl cyclohexene.
17. The composition of claim 3 wherein the hydrocarbon polymer is (4) an olefin-diene copolymer wherein the diene is a conjugated diene.
18. The composition of claim 17 wherein the hydrocarbon polymer is a butyl rubber.
19. The composition of claim 3 wherein the hydrocarbon polymer is (5) a star polymer, wherein the {overscore (M)}n ranges from about 100,000 to about 2 million.
20. The composition of claim 3 wherein the hydrocarbon polymer is (5) a hydrogenated star polymer wherein the arms are derived from dienes.
21. The composition of claim 3 wherein the hydrocarbon polymer is (5) a hydrogenated star polymer wherein the arms are derived from dienes and vinyl substituted aromatic compounds.
22. The composition of claim 3 wherein the hydrocarbon polymer is (5) a star polymer wherein the arms comprise polyisobutylene groups.
23. The composition of claim 1 wherein the subscript a ranges from 1 to about 10.
24. The composition of claim 1 wherein the subscript b ranges from 1 to about 10.
25. The composition of claim 24 wherein X is NRb and Ra is the group
30
wherein J is NH2.
26. The composition of claim 1 wherein X is NRb and Ra is an ethylene group.
27. The composition of claim 23 wherein one of R9 and R10 is a group of the formula YcR11M.
28. The composition of claim 1 wherein each Z is independently a group of the formula
31
wherein R3 is H and n0.
29. The composition of claim 1 wherein no more than three of R9, R10 and R12 contain amide groups, imide-containing groups, acylamino groups or amide-containing groups.
30. A process comprising first reacting, optionally in the presence of an acid catalyst,
(P) an olefinically unsaturated hydrocarbon polymer having {overscore (M)}n ranging from 20,000 to about 500,000 when the polymer is not a star polymer, and up to about GPC peak molecular weight of 4,000,000 when the polymer is a star polymer, with
(G) from about 0.1 to about 3 moles per mole-equivalent of (P) of at least one carboxylic reactant selected from the group consisting of compounds of the formula
R3C(O)(R4)nC(O)OR5(IV)
wherein each of R3 and R5 is independently H or a hydrocarbyl group, R4 is a divalent hydrocarbylene group, and n is 0 or 1, and reactive sources thereof to form a carboxylic group containing intermediate, then reacting said intermediate with
(C) from about 0.5 to about 1.25 equivalents, per equivalent of carboxylic acid or reactive source thereof, of a heterocycle precursor.
31. The process of claim 30 wherein (G) is reacted with a mixture of (P) and olefinically unsaturated compounds having molecular weight ranging from about 100 to less than 20,000.
32. The process of claim 30 wherein (G) is reacted with a mixture comprising from about 0.1 mole equivalent of carbon to carbon double bonds to about 2 moles of an olefinically unsaturated compound having molecular weight ranging from about 100 to less than 20,000 per mole equivalent of carbon to carbon double bonds in (A) the olefinically unsaturated polymer.
33. The process of claim 30 wherein (P) the olefinically unsaturated hydrocarbon polymer is at least one member selected from the group consisting of:
(1) polymers of dienes;
(2) copolymers of conjugated dienes with vinyl substituted aromatic compounds;
(3) polymers of aliphatic olefins having from 2 to about 28 carbon atoms;
(4) olefin-diene copolymers; and
(5) star polymers.
34. The process of claim 33 wherein the hydrocarbon polymer is (1) a hydrogenated polymer of dienes, wherein the diene comprises a conjugated diene selected from the group consisting of isoprene, butadiene, and piperylene.
35. The composition of claim 33 wherein the hydrocarbon polymer is (2) a hydrogenated copolymer of a conjugated diene with a vinyl substituted aromatic compound, wherein the vinyl substituted aromatic compound is a styrenic compound.
36. The composition of claim 33 wherein the hydrocarbon polymer is (5) a hydrogenated star polymer wherein the arms are derived from at least one of dienes and dienes and vinyl substituted aromatic compounds.
37. The process of claim 30 wherein the carboxylic reactant (G) is selected from the group of compounds of the formula
32
wherein each of R3 and R5 and each R9 is independently H or a hydrocarbyl group, R4 is a divalent hydrocarbylene group, and n is 0 or 1.
38. The process of claim 30 wherein the carboxylic reactant (G) is selected from the group consisting of glyoxylic acid, glyoxylic acid hydrate and compounds of the formula
33
wherein each of R3 and R5 is independently H or alkyl, R4 is lower alkylene, R9 is alkyl and n is 0 or 1.
39. The process of claim 30 wherein the heterocycle precursor (C) is selected from the group consisting of compounds of the formula
HW-alkylene-NH2(II)
wherein W is O, S, and NRb, the alkylene group contains from 1 to about 8 carbon atoms. which carbon atoms may have one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyl, hydroxyhydrocarbyl, and aminohydrocarbyl, and Rb is H, hydrocarbyl, hydroxyhydrocarbyl, or aminohydrocarbyl; and
34
or salts thereof wherein V is H2N or H2NNH, and U is O, S or NH.
40. The process of claim 30 wherein the reaction with the heterocycle precursor is conducted at a temperature ranging from about 100 C. to about 250 C. for a sufficient time to convert at least about 50% of the carboxylic groups to heterocyclic groups.
41. The process of claim 39 wherein the carboxylic group containing intermediate is reacted with both of
HW-alkylene-NH2 (II) and
35
simultaneously or consecutively, in any order.
42. The process of claim 41 wherein reaction is with from about 20-40 mole % of HW-alkylene-NH2 and from about 60-80 mole %
36
43. The process of claim 30 wherein the intermediate is reacted with both of at least one heterocycle precursor and at least one additional compound having at least one condensable NH group, simultaneously or consecutively, in any order.
44. The process of claim 30 wherein the reaction of the intermediate with (C) is conducted, simultaneously or consecutively, with (D), at least one hydrocarbyl substituted carboxylic acid or anhydride.
45. The process of claim 43 wherein the additional compound is the reaction product of a hydrocarbyl substituted acid or anhydride having at least 30 carbon atoms in the hydrocarbyl group and an alkylene polyamine having 2 or 3 carbon atoms in each alkylene group.
46. The process of claim 43 wherein the additional compound is a heterocyclic derivative of a fatty acid and an alkylene polyamine containing at least one nitrogen atom in the heterocyclic group.
47. The process of claim 44 wherein from about 60% to about 80% of the heterocycle precursor is reacted with the hydrocarbyl substituted carboxylic acid or anhydride before reaction with the intermediate.
48. The process of claim 38 wherein (G) the carboxylic acid or reactive source thereof is at least one of glyoxylic acid, the hydrate thereof, or a lower alkyl ester, lower alkyl hemiacetal thereof, and the heterocycle precursor is aminoguanidine bicarbonate.
49. The process of claim 30 conducted in an extruder.
50. A product prepared by the process of claim 30.
51. A product prepared by the process of claim 48.
52. An additive concentrate comprising from about 95% to about 50% by weight of a substantially inert organic diluent and from about 5% to about 50% by weight of the composition of claim 1.
53. An additive concentrate comprising from about 95% to about 50% by weight of a substantially inert organic diluent and from about 5% to about 50% by weight of the product of claim 50.
54. The composition of claim 1 further comprising from about 20% to about 80% by weight of at least one ashless dispersant.
55. The composition of claim 54 wherein the ashless dispersant is boronated.
56. The composition of claim 1 further comprising from about 20% to about 80% by weight of a nitrogen and metal containing derivative of a hydrocarbon substituted polycarboxylic acid or functional derivative thereof.
57. An additive concentrate comprising from about 60% to about 88% by weight of a substantially inert organic diluent, from about 6% to about 20% by weight of the product of claim 1, and about 6% to about 20% by weight of at least one ashless dispersant.
58. A lubricating composition comprising a major amount of an oil of lubricating viscosity and a minor amount of the composition of claim 1.
59. A lubricating composition comprising a major amount of an oil of lubricating viscosity and a minor amount of the product of claim 50.
60. A lubricating composition comprising a major amount of an oil of lubricating viscosity and a minor amount of the product of claim 51.
61. A fuel composition comprising a major amount of a normally liquid fuel and a minor amount of the composition of claim 1.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A bio-threat alert infrastructure system, for use with a bio-threat alert device and collected quantitative data associated with a bio-threat, the system comprising:
(a) an analyzing processor operatively applying one or more statistical algorithms to the collected quantitative data to precisely estimate event data, wherein the event data comprises time data and position data associated with an event in the development of a bio-threat;
(b) an encoding processor to encode the event data into a bio-threat alert signal; and
(c) a transmitting element operatively transmitting the alert signal for reception by the device.
2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing processor applies the statistical algorithms with reference to (a) clinical parameters, (b) sociological data, (c) medical infrastructure data, andor (d) geophysics information.
3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing processor precisely estimates the event data for at least one said event which (a) occurred at a then previous time at or after a beginning of the bio-threat, (b) is occurring substantially in a then present time, andor (c) is predicted to occur at a then future time.
4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing processor precisely estimates the time data of at least one said event which has occurred, is occurring, andor is predicted to occur substantially local andor regional to the device.
5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing processor precisely estimates the time data andor the position data of at least one said event which is personalized to the device based on personal data associated with the device.
6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing processor precisely estimates the event data in the form of one or more visually presentable (a) textual data, (b) graphical data, andor (c) colored indicator light data.
7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing processor precisely estimates the event data in the form of visually andor audibly presentable data.
8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing processor precisely estimates the position data of at least one said event in the form of (a) descriptive place name data, (b) numerical co-ordinate system data, andor (c) graphical map andor drawing data.
9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing processor precisely estimates the time data andor the position data of at least one said event on a local, regional, national, international andor worldwide scale.
10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing processor precisely estimates the time data andor the position data of: (a) a progression of the bio-threat towards andor through a location; (b) a rate of expansion andor propagation of the bio-threat; (c) an evolution andor mutation of one or more strains of the bio-threat; (d) an efficacy of one or more bio-markers in identifying the bio-threat; andor (e) one or more intensities of bio-threat infection andor a most infected area.
11. A system according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing processor precisely estimates the time data andor the position data of: an efficacy of one or more treatments for the bio-threat, andor a resistance of the bio-threat to said one or more. treatments.
12. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a receiving element operatively receiving a result of a bio-threat test from a biological or environmental test reader element. of one said device, and wherein the analyzing processor operatively applies the statistical algorithms to the result, along with the collected quantitative data, to precisely estimate the event data.
13. A system according to claim 1, adapted for use with one or more of the following as the device: (a) a biological or environmental test reader device; (b) a disposable, consumable andor reusable biological or environmental test device; (c) an integrated cell phone and biological or environmental test reader device; (d) a cellular telephone; (e) a mobile communications device; (f) a personal digital assistant; (g) a desktop computer; (h) a laptop computer; (l) a navigation device; (j) a digital audio player; (k) a camera; (l) a gaming device; (m) a television; and (n) a radio.
14. A method of transmitting a bio-threat alert signal, for use with a bio-threat alert infrastructure system and collected quantitative data associated with a bio-threat, the method comprising:
(a) a statistical analysis step of applying statistical algorithms to the collected quantitative data, using an analyzing processor of the system, to precisely estimate event data, wherein the event data comprises time data and position data associated with an event in the development of a bio-threat;
(b) an encoding step of using an encoding processor of the system to encode the event data into a bio-threat alert signal; and
(c) a transmitting step of using the system to transmit the bio-threat alert signal.
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein in the statistical analysis step, the analyzing processor applies the statistical algorithms with reference to (a) clinical parameters, (b) sociological data, (c) medical infrastructure data, andor (d) geophysics information.
16. A method according to claim 14, wherein in the statistical analysis step, the analyzing processor precisely estimates the event data for at least one said event which (a) occurred at a then previous time at or after a beginning of the bio-threat, (b) is occurring substantially in a then present time, andor (c) is predicted to occur at a then future time.
17. A method according to claim 14, wherein in the statistical analysis step, the analyzing processor precisely estimates the time data of at least one said event which has occurred, is occurring, andor is predicted to occur substantially local andor regional to the device.
18. A method according to claim 14, wherein in the statistical analysis step, the analyzing processor precisely estimates the time data andor the position data of at least one said event which is personalized to the device based on personal data associated with the device.
19. A method according to claim 14, wherein in the statistical analysis step, the analyzing processor precisely estimates the event data in the form of one or more visually presentable (a) textual data, (b) graphical data, andor (c) colored indicator light data.
20. A method according to claim 14, wherein in the statistical analysis step, the analyzing processor precisely estimates the event data in the form of visually andor audibly presentable data.
21. A method according to claim 14, wherein in the statistical analysis step, the analyzing processor precisely estimates the position data of at least one said event in the form of (a) descriptive place name data, (b) numerical co-ordinate system data, andor (c) graphical map andor drawing data.
22. A method according to claim 14, wherein in the statistical analysis step, the analyzing processor precisely estimates the time data andor the position data of at least one said event on a local, regional, national, international andor worldwide scale.
23. A method according to claim 14, wherein in the statistical analysis step, the analyzing processor precisely estimates the time data andor the position data of: (a) a progression of the bio-threat towards andor through a location; (b) a .rate of expansion andor propagation of the bio-threat; (c) an evolution andor mutation of one or more strains of the bio-threat; (d) an efficacy of one or more bio-markers in identifying the bio-threat; andor (e) one or more intensities of bio-threat infection andor a most infected area.
24. A method according to claim 14, wherein in the statistical analysis step, the analyzing processor precisely estimates the time data andor the position data of: an efficacy of one or more treatments for the bio-threat, andor a resistance of the bio-threat to said one or more treatments.
25. A method according to one of claims 14 to 24, further comprising a receiving step of using the system to receive a result of a bio-threat test, and wherein in the statistical analysis step, the analyzing processor operatively applies the statistical algorithms to the result, along with the collected quantitative data, to precisely estimate the event data.
26. A method according to claim 14, wherein in the encoding step, the alert signal is adapted for reception by one or more of the following devices, after the transmitting step: (a) a biological or environmental test reader device; (b) a disposable, consumable andor reusable biological or environmental test device; (c) an integrated cell phone and biological or environmental test reader device; (d) a cellular telephone; (e.) a mobile communications device; (f) a personal digital assistant; (g) a desktop computer; (h) a laptop computer; (i) a navigation device; (j) a digital audio player; (k) a camera; (l) a gaming device; (m) a television; and (n) a radio.
27. A bio-threat alert device, for use with a bio-threat alert signal, the device comprising:
(a) a receiving element operatively receiving the alert signal;
(b) a decoding processor to decode the alert signal into event data, wherein the event data comprises time data and position data associated with an event in the development of a bio-threat; and
(c) a presentation element operatively presenting at least a portion of the event data to a user of the device.
28. A device according to claim 27, wherein the presentation element operatively presents the time data andor position data of at least one said event which (a) occurred at a then previous time at or after a beginning of the bio-threat, (b) is occurring substantially in a then present time, andor (c) is predicted to occur at a then future time.
29. A device according to claim 27, further comprising a location element operative to identify a location of the device, and wherein the presentation element operatively presents the time data of at least one said event which has occurred, is occurring, andor is predicted to occur substantially local andor regional to the device.
30. A device according to claim 27, wherein the presentation element operatively presents the time data andor the position data of at least one said event which is personalized to the device andor to the user based on personal data associated with the device andor with the user.
31. A device according to claim 27, wherein the presentation element visually presents the portion of the event data (a) textually, (b) graphically, andor (c) using one or more colored indicator lights.
32. A device according to claim 27, wherein the presentation element comprises (a) a display element to visually present, andor (b) an audio element for audible presentation of, the portion of the event data to the user.
33. A device according to claim 27, wherein the presentation element operatively presents the position data of at least one said event (a) descriptively using place names, (b) numerically using a co-ordinate system, andor (c) graphically using a map andor drawing.
34. A device according to claim 27, wherein the presentation element operatively presents the time data andor the position data of at least one said event on a local, regional, national, international andor worldwide scale.
35. A device according to claim 27, wherein the presentation element operatively presents the time data andor the position data of: (a) a progression of the bio-threat towards andor through a location; (b) a rate of expansion andor propagation of the bio-threat; (c) an evolution andor mutation of one or more strains of the bio-threat; (d) an efficacy of one or more bio-markers in identifying the bio-threat; andor (e) one or more intensities of bio-threat infection andor a most infected area.
36. A device according to claim 27, wherein the presentation element operatively presents the time data andor the position data of: an efficacy of one or more treatments for the bio-threat, andor a resistance of the bio-threat to said one or more treatments.
37. A device according to claim 27, further comprising: (a) a biological or environmental test reader element operative to test for presence of the bio-threat in a biological or environmental test sample; and (b) a transmitting element to remotely transmit a result of said test.
38. A device according to claim 27, wherein the receiving element, the decoding processor, and the presentation element of the device are together embodied within: (a) a biological or environmental test reader device; (b) a disposable, consumable andor reusable biological or environmental test device; (c) an integrated cell phone and biological or environmental test reader device; (d) a cellular telephone; (e) a mobile communications device; (f) a personal digital assistant; (g) a desktop computer; (h) a laptop computer; (i) a navigation device; (j) a digital audio player; (k) a camera; (l) a gaming device; (m) a television; andor (n) a radio.
39. A device according to claim 27, wherein the receiving element is adapted to operatively receive, via a wireless communication network, the alert signal from one or more peer devices.
40. A bio-threat alerting method, for use with a bio-threat alert signal, of alerting a user of a bio-threat alert device, the method comprising:
(a) a receiving step of using the device to receive the alert signal;
(b) a decoding step of using a decoding processor, onboard the device, to decode the alert signal into event data, wherein the event data comprises time data and position data associated with an event in the development of a bio-threat; and
(c) a presentation step of using a presentation element onboard the device to present at least a portion of the event data to the user.
41. A method according to claim 40, wherein in the presentation step, the presentation element operatively presents the time data andor position data of at least one said event which (a) occurred at a then previous time at or after a beginning of the bio-threat, (b) is occurring substantially in a then present time, andor (c) is predicted to occur at a then future time.
42. A method according to claim 40, further comprising a locating step, before the presentation step, of using the device to identify a location of the device, and wherein in the presentation step, the presentation element operatively presents the time data of at least one said event which has occurred, is occurring, andor is predicted to occur substantially local andor regional to the device.
43. A method according to claim 40, wherein in the presentation step, the presentation element operatively presents the time data andor the position data of at least one said event which is personalized to the device andor to the user based on personal data associated with the device andor with the user.
44. A method according to claim 40, wherein in the presentation step, the presentation element visually presents the portion of the event data (a) textually, (b) graphically, andor (c) using one or more colored indicator lights.
45. A method according to claim 40, wherein in the presentation step, the presentation element visually andor audibly presents the portion of the event data to the user.
46. A method according to claim 40, wherein in the presentation step, the presentation element operatively presents the position data of at least one said event (a) descriptively using place names, (b) numerically using a co-ordinate system, andor (c) graphically using a map andor drawing.
47. A method according to claim 40, wherein in the presentation step, the presentation element operatively presents the time data andor the position data of at least one said event on a local, regional, national, international andor worldwide scale.
48. A method according to claim 40, wherein in the presentation step, the presentation element operatively presents the time data andor the position data of (a) a progression of the bio-threat towards andor through a location; (b) a rate of expansion andor propagation of the bio-threat; (c) an evolution andor mutation of one or more strains of the bio-threat; (d) an efficacy of one or more bio-markers in identifying the bio-threat; andor (e) one or more intensities of bio-threat infection andor a most infected area.
49. A method according to claim 40, wherein in the presentation step, the presentation element operatively presents the time data andor the position data of: an efficacy of one or more treatments for the bio-threat, andor a resistance of the bio-threat to said one or more treatments.
50. A method according to claim 40, further comprising (a) a biological or environmental test step of using the device to test for presence of the bio-threat in a biological or environmental test sample; and (b) a transmitting step of using the device to remotely transmit a result of said test.
51. A method according to claim 40, wherein the receiving step, the decoding step, and the presentation step are together performed using: (a) a biological or environmental test reader device; (b) a disposable, consumable andor reusable biological or environmental test device; (c) an integrated cell phone and biological or environmental test reader device; (d) a cellular telephone; (e) a mobile communications device; (f) a personal digital assistant; (g) a desktop computer; (h) a laptop computer; (i) a navigation device; (j) a digital audio player; (k) a camera; (l) a gaming device; (m) a television; andor (n) a radio.
52. A method according to claim 40, wherein in the receiving step, the device operatively receives, via a wireless communication network, the alert signal from one or more peer devices.