Abstract: Compounds having Formula (I), including pharmaceutically acceptable salts and prodrugs thereof: are selective inhibitors of the 11?-HSD1 enzyme. They inhibit the 11?-HSD1-mediated conversion of cortisone and other 11-keto-glucocorticoids to cortisol and other 11?-hydroxy-glucocorticoids. The 11?-HSD1 inhibitors therefore decrease the amount of cortisol in target tissues, thereby modulating the effects of cortisol. Modulation of cortisol may be effective in controlling non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM), hyperglycemia, obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, Syndrome X, and other symptoms associated with NIDDM or with excess cortisol in the body.

Abstract: Peptide analogs formed by replacing one or more, but not all, amino acids of a peptide chain with 1,2-dihydro-3(6H)-pyridinone, display an unusually strong tendency to assume a ?-strand conformation and to enter into ?-sheet-like interactions with peptides and other peptide analogs that engage in ?-sheet-like interactions with peptides. The peptide analogs of this invention therefore have utility has ?-strand mimics offering advantages over native peptides as well as ?-strand mimics of the prior art.

Abstract: A data stream is transferred through a parallel data bus while the read or write strobe is adjusted. The resultant data is compared to the original data to detect errors with each data line of the parallel bus. The results are displayed on a grid whereby the characteristics of each line of the data bus may be visually understood. The characteristic image of the performance of the data bus may be used for debugging the bus, as well as for other uses wherein the performance is very highly characterized.

Abstract: Peptide analogs formed by replacing one or more, but not all, amino acids of a peptide chain with 1,2-dihydro-3(6H)-pyridinone, display an unusually strong tendency to assume a &bgr;-strand conformation and to enter into &bgr;-sheet-like interactions with peptides and other peptide analogs that engage in &bgr;-sheet-like interactions with peptides. The peptide analogs of this invention therefore have utility has &bgr;-strand mimics offering advantages over native peptides as well as &bgr;-strand mimics of the prior art.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for configuring a machine vision system over a network, wherein the machine vision system includes a heterogeneous set of vision processors (VPs), and at least one host having a user interface (UI). The method includes the steps of sending VP characteristic information over the network from a VP to a host having a UI; and using the UI to configure the VP via the network. Thus, it is no longer necessary to match a UI with the VP it will connect with, which simplifies installation, configuration, and extension of multiple VP vision systems. The invention also enables a single UI to connect to and configure VPs with substantially different I/O support, communications protocols, and vision functionality.

Abstract: A method of swing on a swing is disclosed, in which a user positioned on a standard swing suspended by two chains from a substantially horizontal tree branch induces side to side motion by pulling alternately on one chain and then the other.