Abstract: Processes for preparing a 4-(secondary or tertiary)aminopyridine are provided. The processes comprise reacting a 4-substituted pyridine base having a leaving group as the 4-substituent, with an activating agent so as to form a corresponding 1,4-substituted pyridine; reacting the 1,4-substituted pyridine with a primary or secondary amine to substitute an amino group at the 4-position, and thereby form a corresponding 1-substituted-4-(secondary or tertiary) aminopyridine, wherein the reacting is conducted in a substitution reaction medium essentially free from strong base; and treating the 1-substituted-4-aminopyridine compound to remove the 1-substituent and thereby form a product medium including the 4-(secondary or tertiary) amino-pyridine.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a bending lamp apparatus and method of use. A first filament is energized as a vehicle begins to turn so as to provide illumination in the direction of the turn. As the turn becomes more severe, a second filament is energized such that an additional area is illuminated in the direction of the turn.

Abstract: The subject invention comprises an adaptive front lighting system (“AFS”) utilizing at least one light emitting diode (“LED”) as a light source and a means for moving the LED to achieve AFS functionality. An exemplary embodiment of the subject invention comprises a plurality of LEDs positioned and located on a LED carrier. The LED carrier is mechanically connected to at least one actuator that causes the LED carrier and LEDs to move. A controller is used to cause the actuator to move the LEDs. In this manner, this exemplary embodiment adjusts the light beam and creates the desired light beam pattern. Other exemplary embodiments of the subject invention pivotally connect the LEDs to the lens and to each other and utilize the actuator and controller to adjust the light beam. Another exemplary embodiment positions the LEDs in a spherical surface and connects them to the actuator by an extension in order to adjust the light beam.

Abstract: Gypsum wallboard compositions are disclosed which contain functionalized styrene butadiene latex polymers. Methods for the use of the compositions in the manufacture of wallboard panels and sheets is presented.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a pivot stud with an axis of rotation in the horizontal plane for use within a visual optical aim light assembly. The axis of rotation of the pivot stud defines an axis of rotation about which the light assembly may be rotated so as to properly aim the visual optical aim light assembly. The pivot stub does not allow rotation about planes other than the horizontal plane. According to one embodiment, the pivot stud comprises a ball and socket of a generally ellipsoid shape.

Abstract: An adjustable rear lamp is disclosed to allow the adjustment of a lamp housing within the lamp cavity of an automobile's body frame. A threaded bolt is inserted into an opening in the sheet metal of an automobile. A nut is attached to the threaded bolt. The threaded bolt surrounds a threaded shaft, and one end of the threaded shaft is attached to the lamp housing. The nut and threaded bolt may be rotated, engaging the threaded shaft and moving the threaded shaft into or out of the lamp cavity. The movement of the threaded shaft and the lamp housing allows the lamp housing to be positioned precisely within the lamp cavity.

Abstract: The subject invention comprises a thin lamp assembly having a lens and a lamp housing heat staked and sealed together. The subject invention further comprises the method of assembling the thin lamp assembly. In one embodiment, the lens has a plurality of plastic stakes and a lens rib located around the lens' periphery. Further, the lamp housing has a plurality of receiving holes around its outer periphery and a lamp housing rib around its inner periphery. In this embodiment, a sealant is placed on the lamp housing and the plastic stakes are inserted into the receiving holes so that the lens rib and lamp housing rib form a seal channel to contain the sealant and the lens is flush with the lamp housing. A heat source is then used to heat treat the plastic stakes to form a plurality of mushroom caps that act to attach the lens to the lamp housing.

Abstract: A technique includes the determination of a set of arguments for an outsourced computation and preparing a group of disguised arguments corresponding to the set of arguments with a first computer. The first computer outputs the disguised arguments to a second computer. The second computer performs the outsourced computation with the disguised arguments to determine a corresponding disguised result. The second computer returns the disguised result to the first computer. The first computer recovers an actual answer from the disguised result. Before outsourcing, the first computer can classify the outsourced computation into one of a number of computation types and select one or more of a number of disguising operations based this classification.

Abstract: Low density joint compounds, and methods for their use are disclosed. Joint compounds comprising water, calcium carbonate, a foaming agent, and a rheology modification agent contain a plurality of stable air bubbles. Joint compounds can have densities of about 4 pounds per gallon to about 8 pounds per gallon. A presently prepared composition has a density of about 4.8 pounds per gallon. A presently preferred foaming agent is a polyether siloxane copolymer. A presently preferred rheology modification agent is poly(ethylene oxide). The joint compounds can comprise additional components such as perlite, mica, talc, preservatives, and latex.

Abstract: A method and system for online education that includes an educator provider system and at least one student system connected via a network means so that at least one lesson can be transmitted from the provider system to the student system. One embodiment of the present invention uses an interactive lesson with at least one audio file that controls the pace of the presentation of the lesson. The present invention can further comprise a mechanism for generating a lesson completion record after a student has completed the lesson. The lesson completion record is immediately transmitted upon completion of the lesson to a student and/or an education authority in order to certify that the student has completed the lesson and has spent the requisite minimum time period on that lesson.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device and method of bicompartmental arthroplasty of the knee. The device permits arthroplasty of the medial or lateral and patellofemoral compartments of the knee while leaving the opposite compartments and the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments intact. The device provides a femoral prosthesis component that includes a trochlear surface and a tibial prosthesis component which can be secured to the tibia. The femoral component is essentially “u” shaped having an anterior leg upon which the trochlear surface is positioned and a posterior leg which engages the posterior surface of the distal end of the femur. The femoral component also has a convex articulating surface which engages a concave articulating surface of the tibial prosthesis component to approximate the articulation of a healthy knee.

Abstract: A sealing bulb boot for use in a vehicular lighting assembly comprising a boot with a lip running along its outer perimeter and a hole at its approximate center. The hole in the boot is generally circular in configuration with at least one notch which allows a conventional tabbed locking mechanism of a light source, which requires an approximate quarter turn to lock the light source to the reflector, to pass therethrough. The outer lip of the sealing bulb boot presses around a portion of the housing of the lighting assembly. A seal is also created around the inner portion of the sealing bulb boot upon the insertion of the light source through the hole at the center of the boot and the turning of the light source to engage the light source's locking mechanism.

Abstract: An automotive lighting assembly cooling system includes a heat pipe with an evaporation area proximate to a heat generating component, such as a Light Emitting Diode (LED), and a condensing area located remote from the evaporation area. Evaporation of fluid within the heat pipe transfers heat away from the heat generating component. The efficiency of the cooling system in one embodiment is increased by including fins associated with the condensing area and placing the fins in an area where air flow external to a moving vehicle assists in cooling the fins.

Abstract: Gypsum wallboard compositions are disclosed which contain functionalized styrene butadiene latex polymers. Methods for the use of the compositions in the manufacture of wallboard panels and sheets is presented.

Abstract: A method for controlling voltages in an integrated starter alternator electric machine is provided where the armature windings are manipulated in a ?/Y/? fashion. In particular, the armature windings are arranged in a ? connection during engine cranking operation, when the electric machine acts as a starter motor. After the engine is cranked, the windings are changed into a Y connection when the ISAD machine changes from motoring to generating and operates a low speeds, such as idle speed. Next, when the engine speed increases above a predetermined winding reconfiguration speed, the windings are switched from Y to ? connection. If the engine speed falls below the winding reconfiguration speed, the machine again switches the armature windings to a Y connection to take advantage of the efficiencies of the Y connection at that low speed range in the generating state.

Abstract: An electric machine having multi-set rectangular copper hairpin windings comprises a stator having a plurality of partially closed stator slots. A first winding set and a second winding set are positioned in the stator slots. The first winding set and the second winding set are connected by adjacent leg ends. According to a first embodiment, conductor layers in alternate slots alternate between different phases. The conductor layers in the remaining slots are all of the same phase. Hairpins having unequal length legs are used to implement the first embodiment. According to a second embodiment, conductor layers in alternate slots include one phase for the first winding set and another phase for the second winding set. The conductor layers in the remaining slots are all of the same phase. Hairpins having equal length legs are used to implement the second embodiment.

Abstract: The subject invention comprises a headlamp moisture control system that comprises at least one desiccant and at least one valve. The desiccant comprises an interior desiccant surface that forms an intake passageway and an exterior desiccant surface that forms at least one exhaust passageway. Further, the exterior desiccant surface area has a surface area that is greater than the interior desiccant surface area. The at least one valve can comprise an intake valve and an exhaust valve or it can comprise a combination valve. In either embodiment, the at least one valve prevents the desiccant from constantly being exposed to air that contains moisture. The moisture control system prevents moisture from entering a headlamp assembly during the cooling of a headlamp by only allowing air to enter the headlamp assembly through the intake passageway over the interior desiccant surface.

Abstract: An ejector system for use in an injection molding machine comprises a plurality of rack gears and pinions gears that provide active alignment of plates within the ejector system. As unequal force is experienced in ejecting a molded item, the rack and pinion gears distribute the force to other areas of the ejector system plate, maintaining proper alignment of the plates within the ejector system.

Abstract: A valve comprising valve members which are biased toward a closed or open position is provided with a flexible cable which is used to reposition the valve members by moving the cable so as to overcome the force generated by the biasing means. The cable may be moved by an appropriate actuator, such as a motor. When desired, the cable is moved to its original position allowing the biasing means to return the valve members to their original position. In one embodiment, the cable is slidably constrained within a flexible, non-compressible sleeve. The valve members according to one embodiment ensure complete closure of a resilient tube passing therethrough without the need to radially align the valve members.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing the amount of wallboard wasted during the manufacturing process is disclosed. Wallboard sections that contain a cover paper splice, which sections must go to waste, are reduced in size during the manufacturing process. This is accomplished by determining the optimum location for a cover paper splice to be made and making the splice at or near this location, such that a rotary knife can readily isolate the splice onto a section of wallboard having a reduce length. This function is accomplished using any suitable computer equipment capable of monitoring desired manufacturing conditions and using this data to calculate the optimum location for a splice.