Abstract: Disclosed are materials and methods for preparing optically active ?-amino acids, which bind to the alpha-2-delta subunit of a calcium channel and are useful for treating pain, fibromyalgia, and a variety of psychiatric and sleep disorders. The method includes reacting a chiral allyl amine with a 2-alkynoate in the presence of a Lewis acid and a base to give a chiral tertiary enamine, which after reaction with ammonia, is hydrogenated to give optically active ?-amino acids.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for treating a PPAR gamma method disease, risk factor or condition which comprises the administration of a compound or combination of compounds exhibiting agonist activity at human PPAR gamma, delta and alpha.

Abstract: An integrated generator, compressor and welding power supply sized to fit within a pickup bed. The lower portion of the housing is sized to fit between the wheel wells of a pickup truck bed, while an upper housing portion is sized to extend over at least one bed wall. The position of the upper housing portions may be changed either vertically or horizontally to accommodate different makes or models of trucks. The lower housing portion includes feet extending downwardly therefrom, to suspend a bottom side of the lower housing above the floor of the truck bed, and thereby permit access to the bed floor beneath the unit. The lower portion contains an internal combustion engine for generating mechanical power, an alternator, and electrically driven compressors. Ducting and baffles facilitate air flow and cooling in this portion. A fuel tank and a control panel are positioned in the upper housing portions.

Abstract: An integrated power unit for use in a bed of a pickup truck. A lower housing is sized to fit between the rear wheel wells of the pickup truck, and opposed upper housings extend over respective opposed sidewalls of the truck bed. The opposed upper housings are adjustable with respect to the lower housing, so that the integrated power unit may be used with various makes and models of pickup trucks. The lower housing contains an internal combustion engine for generating mechanical power, an alternator and electrically driven compressors. Ducting and baffles facilitate air flow and cooling in the lower housing. A fuel tank is formed by one of the upper housings, and a control panel is located in the other upper housing. Connections for electrical power and regulated and unregulated pneumatic power are available at the control panel.

Abstract: An integrated power unit for use in a bed of a pickup truck. A lower housing is sized to fit between the rear wheel wells of the pickup truck, and opposed upper housings extend over respective opposed sidewalls of the truck bed. The opposed upper housings are adjustable with respect to the lower housing, so that the integrated power unit may be used with various makes and models of pickup trucks. The lower housing contains an internal combustion engine for generating mechanical power, an alternator and electrically driven compressors. Ducting and baffles facilitate air flow and cooling in the lower housing. A fuel tank is formed by one of the upper housings, and a control panel is located in the other upper housing. Connections for electrical power and regulated and unregulated pneumatic power are available at the control panel.

Abstract: An integrated generator, compressor and welding power supply sized to fit within a pickup bed. The lower portion of the housing is sized to fit between the wheel wells of a pickup truck bed, while an upper housing portion is sized to extend over at least one bed wall. The position of the upper housing portions may be changed either vertically or horizontally to accommodate different makes or models of trucks. The lower housing portion includes feet extending downwardly therefrom, to suspend a bottom side of the lower housing above the floor of the truck bed, and thereby permit access to the bed floor beneath the unit. The lower portion contains an internal combustion engine for generating mechanical power, an alternator, and electrically driven compressors. Ducting and baffles facilitate air flow and cooling in this portion. A fuel tank and a control panel are positioned in the upper housing portions.

Abstract: A method for financing a supply of goods (a supply chain) from a supplier to a buyer in which the buyer has a lower cost of funds than the supplier. According to the method, the buyer generates a purchase order for the goods which is forwarded to the supplier who in turn ships the goods to the buyer. The supplier sends an invoice to the buyer which stores the invoice data in a database. The financing institution electronically accesses the database to retrieve the daily invoices. The financial institution then calculates the financing applicable to the shipped good and forwards a payment to the supplier. Upon maturity of the financing, the buyer settles with the financial institution by remitting the gross proceeds.

Abstract: Infrared absorbing compositions useful as high solid coatings comprising 5-50% of a volatile solvent portion and 50-95% of a non-volatile portion which comprises a film-forming binder having dispersed within the binder opacifying polymeric beads and an infrared radiation absorbing pigment selected from the group consisting of copper phosphate, basic copper phosphate, copper pyrophosphate, tungsten trioxide and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A lighting structure for intensely illuminating a narrow linear region. A light source emits light into an end of a hollow, elongate light guide. A longitudinal slit light-emitting aperture extends through an external wall of the light guide. A lens is mounted in the aperture. The lens bears a plurality of prisms which extend substantially perpendicular to the slit, on an inwardly directed face of the lens. The lens may be formed of a film material. A mechanism is provided to maintain the lens flat. A diffuser mounted outwardly of the lens bears a plurality of thin striations extending transversely, relative to the longitudinal slit aperture.

Abstract: A method of apparatus for integrating Loran-C and satellite navigation system technologies in a manner in which the Loran-C navigation signal transmissions are further modulated to provide a communications signal and a supplemental navigation signal, timed to provide additional position information, and used to smooth user position and velocity data between augmentation data messages and between adding and deleting or losing satellite contributing signals.