Abstract: This invention provides novel peptides that function in vivo as agonists of the VPAC2 receptor. These insulin secretagogue polypeptides are shown to lower blood glucose in vivo more than controls upon glucose challenge. The polypeptides of this invention are also stable in formulation and have long half-lives. The peptides of the present invention provide a new therapy for patients with decreased endogenous insulin secretion, in particular type 2 diabetics. In particular, the invention is a polypeptide selected from a specific group of VPAC2-related polypeptides, or functional equivalents thereof. The invention is also directed to a method of treating a metabolic disease in a mammal comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the insulin secretagogue peptides to said mammal. Also disclosed are methods of making the peptides, both recombinant and synthetic.

Abstract: Access control systems and methods regulate access to shared content items in a corpus using visibility tokens. A user provides other users with access to a content item by associating a content token with the content item and associating a matching user token with each user who is to be granted access. A user who attempts to access the content item succeeds only if that user has a user token matching the content token associated with the content item. User tokens can be propagated automatically from one user to another, e.g., based on trust relationships among the users. Content tokens can be indexed with content items so that when a user searches the corpus, a search engine can detect matches between user tokens and content tokens and filter the search results based on whether they are visible to the querying user.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for refreshing data-linked diagrams on a server computer and viewing and consuming the refreshed diagrams via a Web browser. A drawing program allows equations within a diagram definition to define how external data is utilized to modify the attributes of a diagram element. When the diagram is published to a server computer, the definition is converted to server-legible definition. A published diagram is generated that includes a diagram representation defined by the server-legible definition. Upon a request for the published diagram, the external data is refreshed and the diagram definition is updated. The equations are recalculated to generate new element attributes. The diagram representation is then updated with the new attributes and returned for display by a client Web browser. An interface provides exploration tools and a client API exposes methods for surfacing external data and annotating the diagram.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium having a substrate, an interlayer and a magnetic layer, the interlayer having at least a first intermediary layer, a second intermediary layer and a third intermediary layer, wherein the first intermediary layer or the third intermediary layer is non-magnetic or magnetic and the second intermediary layer has a hexagonal close pack crystal structure and a property of providing RKKY coupling between the first intermediary layer and the third intermediary layer when the first intermediary layer and the second intermediary layer are magnetic layers is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of parametric group processing includes forming a parametric index from an indexed database. A first parametric group and a second parametric group corresponding to elements in the parametric index are specified. The first parametric group and the second parametric group are merged to produce a merged parametric group. A parametric result is extracted from the merged parametric group, where the parametric result specifies a set of documents.

Abstract: The present invention comprises methods and compositions for decreasing or preventing viscosity loss in hydrogels.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium having a substrate, an interlayer and a magnetic layer, the interlayer having at least a first intermediary layer, a second intermediary layer and a third intermediary layer, wherein the first intermediary layer or the third intermediary layer is non-magnetic or magnetic and the second intermediary layer has a hexagonal close pack crystal structure and a property of providing RKKY coupling between the first intermediary layer and the third intermediary layer when the first intermediary layer and the second intermediary layer are magnetic layers is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a granular perpendicular magnetic recording medium with improved corrosion resistance comprises sequential steps of providing a non-magnetic substrate including a surface; forming a soft magnetic underlayer (SUL) over the surface; post-deposition heating the SUL; forming an intermediate layer stack over the heated SUL; and forming at least one granular, magnetically hard perpendicular magnetic recording layer over the intermediate layer stack. Heating of the SUL prior to formation of the intermediate layer stack results in formation of an intermediate layer stack with a smoother surface and a granular perpendicular recording layer with increased corrosion resistance than when SUL post-deposition heating is not performed.

Abstract: This invention provides novel peptides that function in vivo as agonists of the VPAC2 receptor. These insulin secretagogue polypeptides are shown to lower blood glucose in vivo more than controls upon glucose challenge. The polypeptides of this invention are also stable in formulation and have long half-lives. The peptides of the present invention provide a new therapy for patients with decreased endogenous insulin secretion, in particular type 2 diabetics. In particular, the invention is a polypeptide selected from a specific group of VPAC2-related polypeptides, or functional equivalents thereof. The invention is also directed to a method of treating a metabolic disease in a mammal comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the insulin secretagogue peptides to said mammal. Also disclosed are methods of making the peptides, both recombinant and synthetic.

Abstract: A circuit is used for driving a plurality of lamps, such as Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps (CCFLs). The lamps are paired to form a plurality of pairs of lamps. Each of the plurality of pairs of lamps has two lamps which are coupled to each other in series. The plurality of pairs of lamps are coupled in parallel. The circuit comprises a switch circuit, a transformer, and a plurality of balance chokes. The switch circuit is used for converting a DC electric power into a first AC electric power. The transformer has a primary winding and a secondary winding. The primary winding of the transformer is coupled to the switch circuit for receiving said first AC electric power and energizing the secondary winding to generate a second AC electric power from the secondary winding to energize the plurality of lamps. Each of the balance chokes includes a first winding and a second winding.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device with a function for magnifying/reducing an initial image displayed on the hand held device, and displaying at least one magnified/reduced image without shifting a focal point identified by the initial image and the applications of the same are provided. The handheld electronic device comprises a display unit, a position selector and an image magnification/reduction unit. The display unit is used for displaying the initial image and the at least one magnified/reduced image. The position selector is used to designate a datum mark associated with the focal point of the initial image. The image magnification/reduction unit, used to conduct at least one image magnification/reduction process to continually magnify/reduce the initial image in accordance with the datum mark, whereby each of the at least one magnified/reduced image is then displayed on the display unit immediately after each of the at least one magnification/reduction process.

Abstract: A timing-control method of a hardware-simulating program can be applied to a software platform for facilitating control program development. The hardware-simulating program can be recorded in any suitable recording medium and defines therein a plurality of simulating elements which are automatically synchronized at intervals by setting specified time points as aligning points. The specified time points are set with adjustable intervals. By adjusting an interval between adjacent specified time points, the simulating speed between the adjacent specified time points can be changed to comply with practical requirements.

Abstract: A method for switching communication network used in a first electronic device which is able to access many kinds of communication networks is disclosed. If the first electronic device receives a switching instruction at a time when a communication link and a data transmission have been established between the first electronic device and a second electronic device via a first communication network. Firstly, the first electronic device obtains an identification number of a third electronic device for use in a second communication network. Then, the communication link is established between the first electronic device and the third electronic device via the second communication network according to the identification number. Finally, the data is transmitted using the communication link between the first electronic device and the third electronic device via the second communication network, and disconnects the original communication link via the first communication link.

Abstract: A printing method is disclosed. A document including at least one type of object is provided. An object selection menu is provided for designating at least one type of object as a print target. According to the object selection menu, the object within the document corresponding to the print target is processed, and a print image is generated accordingly. A print output is generated according to the print image.

Abstract: The motion determination apparatus includes a motion sensor for sensing motion of an electronic device and sending out a motion parameter. A processor receives the motion parameter to determine whether or not his motion is a meaningful motion. A device controller activates a device function according to the determination.

Abstract: Processes locally repairing a thermal barrier coating system on a turbine component that has suffered localized spallation includes locally cleaning a spalled region with water to remove spallation from the spalled region and form a tapered profile in the existing thermal barrier coating; and locally thermally spraying a powder mixture into the cleaned localized spalled region to form a repaired thermal barrier coating. Also disclosed herein are repair processes for platforms of bucket turbine engine components.

Abstract: Heterolayered thin films having ferroelectric/piezoelectric layers of alternating crystal structures and methods of their preparation are provided. In the ferroelectric/piezoelectric thin film, a first layer has a rhombohedral crystal structure and a second layer adjacent the first layer has a tetragonal crystal structure. The layers have a (100) preferred orientation with a-axis normal to the surface of the film. The first layer can be a Zr-rich lead ziroconate titanate layer (e.g. PbZr0.8Ti0.2O3) and the second layer can be a Ti-rich PZT layer (e.g., PbZr0.2Ti0.8O3). Heterolayered ferroelectric/piezoelectric thin film comprising a plurality of such first and second layers in alternating sequence exhibits particularly improved electrical properties.

Abstract: Semi-synthetic glycopeptides that have antibacterial activity are based on modifications of the desmethyl-vancomycin scaffold, in particular, acylation of the amino substituent on the amino-substituted sugar moiety on this scaffold with certain acyl groups; and/or conversion of the acid moiety on the macrocyclic ring of this scaffolds to certain substituted amides. In addition, compounds of the invention include desmethyl-vancomycin scaffolds on which the acid moiety on the macrocyclic ring is converted to certain substituted amides and the amino substituent on the amino-substituted sugar moiety is alkylated with certain alkyl groups. Also provided are methods for synthesis of the compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, and methods of use of the compounds for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, especially bacterial infections.

Abstract: The display control apparatus of the present invention includes a motion sensor, a processor and a display controller. The motion sensor is used to sense the motion of an electronic device and sends out a motion parameter to a processor. Each motion parameter is related to a special motion direction and motion velocity. When the processor receives a motion parameter, a corresponding display instruction is triggered. This display instruction is sent to the display controller to move the page based on the motion direction and motion velocity.

Abstract: Heterolayered thin films having ferroelectric/piezoelectric layers of alternating crystal structures and methods of their preparation are provided. In the ferroelectric/piezoelectric thin film, a first layer has a rhombohedral crystal structure and a second layer adjacent the first layer has a tetragonal crystal structure. The layers have a (100) preferred orientation with ?-axis normal to the surface of the film. The first layer can be a Zr-rich lead ziroconate titanate layer (e.g., PbZr0.8Ti0.2O3) and the second layer can be a Ti-rich PZT layer (e.g., PbZr0.2Ti0.8O3). Heterolayered ferroelectric/piezoelectric thin film comprising a plurality of such first and second layers in alternating sequence exhibits particularly improved electrical properties.