Abstract: A method on a computer for providing critical chain-based project management across a plurality of projects is disclosed. The method includes generating a plurality of plans, each of the plurality of plans corresponding to one of the plurality of projects, wherein a project comprises at least one task. The method further includes generating buffers for each of the plurality of projects and reconciling project resources among the plurality of projects. The method further includes executing the plurality of project plans, including allowing a user to manage the buffers across the plurality of projects. The user is further provided with information associated with buffers for the plurality of projects, so as to evaluate the status of the plurality of projects. Additionally, the user is provided with task prioritization for any task of the plurality of projects, wherein task prioritization is calculated across the plurality of projects.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and a method (1300) for a wireless portable communication device for tuning ground return impedance based upon its configuration are provided. The wireless portable communication device (100) detects its configuration and provides appropriate impedance for a desired antenna performance for the detected configuration by adjusting a ground return impedance block (114) between a printed circuit board ground (108) and a chassis (112).

Abstract: Phosphor compositions having the formulas (Tb1-x-y-z-wYxGdyLuzCew)3MrAls-rO12+?, where M is selected from Sc, In, Ga, Zn, or Mg, and where 0<w?0.3, 0?x?1, 0?y?0.4, 0?z<1, 0?r?4.5, 4.5?s?6, and ?1.5???1.5; (RE1-xScxCey)2A3-pBpSiz-qGeqO12+?, where RE is selected from a lanthanide ion or Y3+, A is selected from Mg, Ca, Sr, or Ba, B is selected from Mg and Zn, and where 0?p?3, 0?q?3, 2.5?z?3.5, 0?x?1, 0?y?0.3, ?1.5???1.5; and (Ca1-x-y-zSrxBayCez)3(Sc1-a-bLuaDc)2Sin-wGewO12+?, where D is either Mg or Zn, 0?x?1, 0?y<1, 0<z?0.3, 0?a<1, 0?c?1, 0?w?3, 2.5?n?3.5, and ?1.5???1.5. Also disclosed are light emitting devices including a light source and at least one of the above phosphor compositions.

Abstract: A plurality of types of liquid with different electrical conductivity flow through a micro channel having a plurality of channels. When an electric field is applied thereto, an electrokinetic driving flow generated in the micro channel attracts objective submicron particles to one side. Therefore, the particles are completely separated in a single operation by use of the micro channel having extremely simple structure, without the necessity of special machining of the channels and the like.

Abstract: A technique for representing the structure of hierarchically-organized data in a non-hierarchical data structure, such as a relation. The hierarchically-organized data is represented as a tree, and each node in the tree is assigned a position identifier that represents both the depth level of the node within the hierarchy, and its ancestor/descendant relationship to other nodes. The data represented by each node, as well as its position identifier, is stored in a row of a relational database, thereby capturing the hierarchical structure of the data in such relational database. A technique is provided for the compressed storage of position identifiers in a format that allows an efficient bytewise comparison of position identifiers to determine relative order and ancestry.

Abstract: A method is provided for creating a polish pad. This may involve determining a design layout of a wafer. The design layout may include a distribution of metal line features on the wafer. A polish pad design may be created/determined based on the determined layer. The polish pad may have asperities having a width greater than a width of metal line features of the wafer.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for modeling structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data all within a single instance of a user defined type (UDT) within a database store. In particular, the XML data model is extended to fields of a UDT. As a result, the properties of the XML data model—such as document order and document structure—can be preserved within instances of a UDT. Moreover, code representing object behavior (i.e., methods that can be invoked on an object in managed code) can be added to the UDT to operate on an XML field, as well as non-XML fields of the UDT. This enables a framework for adding business logic to XML data. The content model of the XML data can be optionally described using XML schema documents associated with the XML fields of the UDT.

Abstract: Storing and querying XML data in a primary table or document utilizes an index of XML data and includes creating a primary table structure, creating a primary XML index commensurate with the primary table structure, populating the primary table and the primary XML index, and running a query on the XML data in a primary table by utilizing the XML index. The XML index can be implemented as a node table. The node table may have a B+-tree structure and be populated by shredding the XML values in the primary table. The XML data may be stored as binary large objects in an XML column of the primary table. Secondary XML indexes may be created to assist in the search and retrieval of XML data stored in the primary table. Both the primary XML index and the secondary XML index tables may be created using data definition language statements.

Abstract: Encapsulated SCSI data packets in a specified format within an MPLS label are transported to a destination over a network according to the MPLS protocol. The SCSI data packets in a header structure followed by labelling according to the MPLS protocol and the labelled data packets are transported via an MPLS network. A Label Switched Path is established for the data using an MPLS routing protocol. A Channel Identifier is assigned to the data packet. The resulting data packet is labelled by an MPLS label. The labelled data packet is transported according to the MPLS protocol to the destination.

Abstract: An image processing enhancement system for receiving a fiber based image. The characteristics of fiber bundle are used to image process an image which has come through the fiber bundle. Those characteristics may be obtained from individual calibration, or simply from a knowledge of the fiber bundle's likely characteristics. One aspect determines the positions of fiber pixels, and interpolates between those fiber pixels.

Abstract: A decoder processes a first bitstream element (e.g., a pull-down flag) in a first syntax layer (e.g., sequence layer or entry point layer) above frame layer in a bitstream for a video sequence, the bitstream comprising encoded source video having a source type (e.g., progressive or interlace). The decoder processes frame data in a second syntax layer (e.g., frame layer) of the bitstream for a frame (such as an interlaced frame or progressive frame, depending on source type, or a skipped frame) in the video sequence. The first bitstream element indicates whether a repeat-picture element (e.g., a repeat-frame element or a repeat field-element) is present or absent in the frame data in the second syntax layer.

Abstract: A process for the purification of paclitaxel or docetaxel comprising: (a) mixing crude paclitaxel with a mixture of solvents such as alkane and chlorinated alkane, filtering the solid followed by drying to obtain paclitaxel or docetaxel of increased purity; (b) repeating step (a) one or more times to obtain paclitaxel or docetaxel of increased purity; (c) dissolving the solid obtained from step (b) in alkyl ketone followed by adding alkane thereto, filtering and drying the solid thus formed to obtain paclitaxel or docetaxel of increased purity; (d) repeating step (c) one or more times to increase the purity of paclitaxel or docetaxel; (e) dissolving the paclitaxel or docetaxel obtained from step (d) in alkanol and then adding water, filtering and drying the solid thus formed, to obtain paclitaxel of increased purity; (f) dissolving the solid obtained from step (e) in alkyl ketone, filtering, followed by adding alkane to the filtrate, filtering and drying the solid thus formed to obtain pure paclitaxel or pure

Abstract: A multiple channel communication system includes a plurality of network communication ports, a plurality of communication devices and an autonegotiation controller. Each communication device is coupled to a respective one of the plurality of network communication ports. The autonegotiation controller is coupled to and shared by the plurality of communication devices.

Abstract: An efficient TCAD tool to analyze the variation of topography and thickness of interconnects and components of integrated circuits introduced by multiple-layer chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP). Contact stress distribution is determined on all scales as a function of topography. A formulation is used relating the pad deformation and therefore stress directly to pattern topography ({d}), and the pad mechanical properties. The 3-dimensional stress and deformation field is described, along with representation of the statistical pad roughness and slurry thickness information. These process conditions are also functions of the surface topography and contact regimes. The stress-topography relationship is represented as [A]{P}={d}, where [A] is the influence coefficient matrix determined by the contact mechanics, and {P} and {d} represent local stress and topography on patterns.

Abstract: A risk system that performs a risk assessment of a financial transaction to obtain a risk score. Based on the risk score, the risk system may request additional transaction information from a customer and/or a merchant. The request is based at least in part on financial transactions that are of moderate risk to thereby provide a non-cash payment acceptance service with more information to further evaluate the financial transaction risks. Thus, moderately risky financial transactions, that are likely to benefit the non-cash payment acceptance service and the merchant that subscribes to the non-cash payment acceptance service, are authorized for increased profitability and customer satisfaction. Furthermore, the risk system may approve or authorize financial transactions that generally fail standard risk assessments that use a cut-off risk score to divide the financial transactions into either approved or declined groups.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method that models computer programming language concepts in a plurality of objects and enables a computer programmer to interact with multiple programming languages through one code model interface. This allows the computer programmer to identify objects or functionality available in an application without having to know or specify an underlying language that implements that object or functionality. The computer programmer can employ the code model to locate an object that implements a specific functionality and return a code model object that implements that functionality. The computer programmer may then interact with that code model object rather than having to interact with the computer programming language.

Abstract: A method comprising downloading a boot image onto a mobile communication device and generating a device-bound certificate (“DBC”). The DBC preferably comprises an authentication code generated using a hashed message authentication code algorithm and a key specific to the device. The method may further comprise storing the DBC on the boot image, thus binding the boot image to the mobile communication device.

Abstract: A risk system that performs a risk assessment of a financial transaction to obtain a risk score. Based on the risk score, the risk system may request additional transaction information from a customer and/or a merchant. The request is based at least in part on financial transactions that are of moderate risk to thereby provide a non-cash payment acceptance service with more information to further evaluate the financial transaction risks. Thus, moderately risky financial transactions, that are likely to benefit the non-cash payment acceptance service and the merchant that subscribes to the non-cash payment acceptance service, are authorized for increased profitability and customer satisfaction. Furthermore, the risk system may approve or authorize financial transactions that generally fail standard risk assessments that use a cut-off risk score to divide the financial transactions into either approved or declined groups.

Abstract: Systems and methods for transcoding a transport stream or a video stream. A video stream includes a quantization matrix and a quantization scale that define how DCT frequency coefficients are quantized. A transport stream is transcoded by updating the quantization matrix and/or the quantization scale such that a new set of DCT frequency coefficients may be generated. Typically the quantization scale and/or the quantization matrix are updated such that the DCT frequency coefficients are more coarsely quantized such that their encoding consumes fewer bits. The quantization matrix can be updated such that select frequency coefficients are affected. Transcoding can operate at any level of the video stream, such as the frame level, the slice level, or the macroblock level. The bit rate of the video stream can therefore be adjusted or altered according to a current quantization level and a current bit rate.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of processing a collection of uncorrected radiographs are described with the apparatus comprising an X-ray scatter compensator and a controller. The compensator is configured for iteratively generating a refined value of a normalized estimated X-ray scatter signal corresponding to an uncorrected radiograph of said collection of uncorrected radiographs. The controller is configured to be coupled to the compensator and further configured to subtract said refined value of said normalized estimated X-ray scatter signal from a corresponding normalized total X-ray signal of a respective one of said uncorrected radiographs so as to form a corresponding corrected radiograph.