Abstract: A diamond electrode having an oxidation resistant diamond film which will not separate from the electrode during electrolysis with highly oxidizing materials. The thickness of the diamond film is 20 pm or more and the diamond film should preferably cover opposite side surfaces of a substrate in such a manner as to also cover end surfaces 2a of the substrate. The surfaces of the substrate are covered with a plurality of diamond layers to form the film using repeated steps of forming separate diamond layers with each diamond layer having a thickness of 10 to 30 pm on one of the surfaces of the substrate and then forming a diamond layer having a thickness of 10 to 30 pm on the other surface of the substrate. Thus, it is possible to form a nonporous surface of diamond layer and prevent deterioration of an electrode caused by the separation of a diamond film.

Abstract: A compound which can be used as a pharmaceutical, particularly a insulin secretion promoter or a agent for preventing/treating disease in which GPR40 is concerned such as diabetes or the like, is provided. It was found that an oxadiazolidinedione compound which is characterized by the possession of a benzyl or the like substituent binding to the cyclic group via a linker at the 2-position of the oxadiazolidinedione ring, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, has excellent GPR40 agonist action. In addition, since the oxadiazolidinedione compound of the present invention showed excellent insulin secretion promoting action and blood glucose level-lowering action, it is useful as an insulin secretion promoter or an agent for preventing/treating diabetes.

Abstract: A diamond electrode includes a conductive silicon substrate having a plurality of pores. The diamond electrode also includes a conductive diamond covering the conductive silicon substrate. The inner wall surfaces of the plurality of pores are at an angle of 60° to 85° with respect to a substrate of the conductive silicon substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a condensed pyrimidine compound represented by formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: where A represents a ring where at least one carbon atom within said ring is optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl, —O-(lower alkyl), halogen atom, carboxyl, —CO2-(lower alkyl), and carbamoyl, R1 represents: (1) phenyl substituted with at least three halogen atoms, which may have at least one additional substituent, or (2) cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, or cycloheptyl, each of which is optionally substituted; and R2 represents a group represented by formula (II) or an optionally substituted cyclic amino: wherein R21 and R22 may be identical or different and each represents —H, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, cycloalkyl, phenyl, heteroaryl, non-aromatic heterocyclyl, or —O-(lower alkyl), each of which is optionally substituted.

Abstract: When forming an image, if there are not enough sheets remaining in a paper feed cassette to satisfy the image forming request, the image forming operation is not executed, and along with prompting the user to refill the paper, the paper feed cassette is pushed out towards an uninstalled state. The apparatus waits for a paper refill, and begins the image forming operation after that paper refill.

Abstract: A vapor lock in a fuel pump can be prevented by reducing the formation of vapor within the fuel. A first group of concavities may be formed in an inner circumferential region of an intake side face of an impeller, and a second group of concavities may be formed concentrically in a region outside of the first group of concavities. A third group of concavities that communicates with the second group of concavities may be formed in a discharge side face of the impeller. The impeller is housed within a casing. A first groove that faces the first group of concavities and a second groove that faces the second group of concavities may be formed in the face of the casing that faces the intake side face of the impeller. A third groove that faces the third group of concavities may be formed in the face of the casing that faces the discharge side face of the impeller.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical agent having GPR40 receptor agonistic action, particularly a compound which is useful as an insulin secretagogue or an agent for preventing and/or treating diabetes mellitus. The present inventors have examined a compound having GPR40 receptor agonistic action, confirmed that an oxadiazolidinedione compound which has a substituent such as a benzyl group, etc. linked with a substituent such as a phenyl group, etc. through a linker at the 2-position of an oxadiazolidinedione ring, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof has an excellent GPR40 agonistic activity, and thus completed the invention. The oxadiazolidinedione compound has excellent insulin secretagogue action and anti-hyperglycemic action, and therefore can be used as an insulin secretagogue or an agent for preventing and/or treating diabetes mellitus.

Abstract: Two liquid crystal panels are laid one over the other in a state that each of the liquid crystal panels is oriented in a forward direction. At least one spacer is detachably provided between the two liquid crystal panels. The liquid crystal panels are positioned relative to each other by a plurality of through-holes arrayed in a thickness direction of the spacer by an interval corresponding to the thickness of the spacer, and a projection engageable in one of the through-holes.

Abstract: When a periodic pattern is not included in image data 210, a prediction error encoding unit 204 outputs the variable-length code of a prediction error quantization value 214 generated by prediction encoding as compressed data 215. When the periodic pattern is included in the image data 210, a periodic pattern encoding unit 208 outputs only information about the periodic pattern as the compressed data 215, while the output of the prediction error encoding unit is stopped. On the decompression side, while the copy instruction of a pixel value before one cycle from the compressed data is not detected, the decompression operation in a normal prediction encoding system is executed. When the instruction is detected, the pixel value one cycle before, internally stored is copied and outputted.

Abstract: Mechanism unit(s) functioning as automatic-feed cassette(s) and mechanism unit(s) functioning as manual-feed tray(s) together form a single integral module, constituting a hybrid paper supply module. A plurality of hybrid paper supply modules are stacked together to constitute a paper supply mechanism. Manual-feed tray(s) with which manual-feed mechanism unit(s) of respective hybrid paper supply module(s) is or are provided is or are maintained in stored state(s) as a result of electromagnetic attraction produced by electromagnet(s). In correspondence to image forming condition(s), electromagnetic attraction at one electromagnet is terminated, causing manual-feed tray(s) to assume deployed state(s). Furthermore, primary path(s) passing vertically through module interior(s) is or are formed so as to permit transport of recording paper toward printing unit(s) of hybrid device(s) regardless of from which hybrid paper supply module(s) it is that recording paper is taken up.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide a pharmaceutical, particularly a compound which can be used as an insulin secretion promoter or a preventive or therapeutic agent for diabetes mellitus and the like diseases in which GPR40 is concerned. [Means for resolution] It was found that novel carboxylic acid derivatives or salts thereof, characterized in that carboxylic acid is linked to a 6-membered monocyclic aromatic ring via two atoms and said aromatic ring is linked to a nitrogen-containing bicyclic ring via a linker, have excellent GPR40 receptor agonist action. In addition, since the carboxylic acid derivatives of the invention showed excellent insulin secretion promoting action and blood glucose reducing action, they are useful as an insulin secretion promoter and a preventive or therapeutic agent for diabetes mellitus.

Abstract: A convenient screening tool and a convenient screening method for obtaining an agent for treating diabetes, a pharmaceutical composition for treating diabetes, and a process for manufacturing the pharmaceutical composition are disclosed. The screening tool is a G protein-coupled receptor, a variation functionally equivalent thereto, or a homologous polypeptide thereof which promotes insulin secretion under a high glucose concentration by activation, or cells transformed with an expression vector comprising a polynucleotide encoding the above polypeptide and expressing the polypeptide.

Abstract: An image data compression apparatus includes: a filter coefficient calculation unit to perform a filter process to separate pixels extracted in accordance with a one-dimensional subband coding into low- and high-frequency components, and to calculate coefficient values of respective filter coefficients; prediction units to perform different predictions respectively for the calculated coefficient values; a predicted coefficient value calculation unit to calculate predicted coefficient values to be used for posterior predictions by calculating each from at least one of predicted values and from corresponding at least one of the calculated coefficient values; a memory unit to hold the predicted coefficient values calculated by the predicted coefficient value calculation unit; and a compression coding unit to calculate a difference between each predicted value and corresponding each coefficient value, and to perform coding after quantizing the difference, or to perform coding on the basis of the difference.

Abstract: In the present invention, a first pixel data group of several pixels existing in block into which an image is divided is divided, thereby generating several second pixel data groups. In the second pixel data group, an orthogonal transformation is performed in several layers using only the predetermined number of coefficients from the lowest frequency side from among the coefficients obtained by the orthogonal transformation. The predetermined number of coefficients from the lowest frequency side from among the coefficients obtained by the orthogonal transformation in the highest layer, and the coefficients that are obtained in a layer other than the highest layer not used for the orthogonal transformation are encoded, thereby generation the compressed data. Accordingly, encoding is performed while separating lower frequency components from higher frequency components.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting the species of a bacterium in a simple manner. Specifically disclosed is a method for detecting the species of a bacterium, which can detect at least one bacterial species selected from Staphylococcus species, Streptococcus species, Klebsiella species, Escherichia species, Mycobacterium species, Legionella species, Vibrio species, Bacillus species, Neisseria species, Campylobacter species, Chlamydia species, Chlamydophila species, Mycoplasma species, Listeria species, Salmonella species and Yersinia species, and which comprises the steps of: a) contacting a sample suspected to contain a nucleic acid derived from the bacterial species; and b) detecting the presence or absence of the hybridization between the nucleic acid molecule and the nucleic acid contained in the sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides a diamond electrode that, in waste water treatment or production of functional water by using electrolysis, does not cause contamination of a solution or release of toxic substances, achieves enhancement of the energy efficiency, has excellent durability, and can endure prolonged use without damage. The present invention further provides a treatment device where the above electrode is used, and a method for manufacturing the above electrode. In a diamond electrode according to the present invention, the electrode includes a conductive diamond film covering one surface of a substrate. Assuming that the thickness of the substrate is T (?m) and the thickness of the conductive diamond film is t1 (?m), the ratio between them is 0.0010?t1/T?0.022 and 10?t1?70.

Abstract: A diamond electrode includes a conductive silicon substrate having a plurality of pores. The diamond electrode also includes a conductive diamond covering the conductive silicon substrate. The inner wall surfaces of the plurality of pores are at an angle of 60° to 85° with respect to a substrate of the conductive silicon substrate.

Abstract: [Problem] A compound which can be used as a pharmaceutical, particularly a insulin secretion promoter or a agent for preventing/treating disease in which GPR40 is concerned such as diabetes or the like, is provided. [Means for resolution] It was found that an oxadiazolidinedione compound which is characterized by the possession of a benzyl or the like substituent binding to the cyclic group via a linker at the 2-position of the oxadiazolidinedione ring, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, has excellent GPR40 agonist action. In addition, since the oxadiazolidinedione compound of the present invention showed excellent insulin secretion promoting action and blood glucose level-lowering action, it is useful as an insulin secretion promoter or an agent for preventing/treating diabetes.

Abstract: There are provided novel pyrimidine derivatives which has been fused with an aromatic heterocycle selected from thiophene, thiazole and pyridine or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; and a pharmaceutical composition comprising said compound as an active ingredient. These compounds exhibit excellent promoting activity on insulin secretion and activity against hyperglycemia. Hence, the pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds as active ingredients, based on these actions, are useful for treating and/or preventing insulin-dependent diabetes (type 1 diabetes), non-insulin-dependent diabetes (type 2 diabetes), insulin-resistant diseases, obesity, and the like.

Abstract: A quantizer quantizes a “prediction error” as a difference value between a pixel X to be compressed and a prediction value X?. A variable-length encoder inputs a quantization number obtained from a quantization table of the quantizer, and outputs a variable-length code (compressed code). A prediction value candidate calculation module calculates candidates 1 through k for a prediction value on the basis of peripheral pixels A, C, and B, and transmits them to a multiplexer (MPX). A prediction value determination module determines a prediction value among the candidates 1 through k for a prediction value on the basis of an intermediate value correspondence table and an intermediate value—image format correspondence table depending on an image format, and transmits a control signal to the multiplexer (MPX). The multiplexer (MPX) outputs one of the candidates 1 through k for a prediction value as a prediction value X?.