The invention relates to a slot piston ring for the pistons of internal combustion engines or compressors, having a peripheral recess that extends close to the slot on the external periphery of the piston facing away from the combustion chamber. The flow regulator allows a user to adjust the rate of flow of fluid from the primary cylinder to the secondary cylinder thereby varying the damping properties of the shock absorber. A sampling range-generating module generates a sampling range of values as a proper subset of the population range, the probability of the random value falling within the sampling range being predetermined. In addition, a number of the pressurizable members may be joined in fluid communication, where they may each have different configurations, yet be arranged to form a large, complex-shaped lay-up surface for the fiber plies. The methods include administering to a mammal a composition containing an artificial oxygen carrier in combination with one or more of a nitric oxide-releasing compound, a therapeutic gas containing gaseous nitric oxide, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, andor a soluble guanylate cyclase sensitizer.