Abstract: A load support for a vehicle load bar can include a base, a first arm coupled to the base and rotatable about a pivot axis, and a second arm coupled to the base and rotatable about the pivot axis. The first arm and the second arm can be configured to selectively move relative to each other. A locking device coupled with the first arm can be configured to selectively fix a position of the first arm and the second arm relative to each other in a locked configuration. The locking device can be configured to engage a notch in the second arm to prevent movement of the first arm and the second arm relative to each other and configured to disengage from the notch to allow movement of the first arm and the second arm relative to each other and separately about the pivot axis.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a molding composition comprising at least about 70% wt. polypropylene or polypropylene random copolymer; up to about 30 wt. % of a block copolymer composition comprising at least one selectively hydrogenated block copolymer which substantially matches the index of refraction of the polypropylene or polypropylene random copolymer, and up to about 0.70% by wt. of a clarifying agent, wherein the weight % of the total blend is 100%. The present invention also may be a molded article produced from the molding composition. A molded article formed from such a composition at a thickness of 0.125 inches will have a haze of less than about 50% and an instrumented impact toughness of at least 100 inch-lbs at ?20° C. to ?30° C.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a molding composition comprising at least about 70% wt. polypropylene or polypropylene random copolymer; up to about 30 wt. % of a block copolymer composition comprising at least one selectively hydrogenated block copolymer which substantially matches the index of refraction of the polypropylene or polypropylene random copolymer, and up to about 0.70% by wt. of a clarifying agent, wherein the weight % of the total blend is 100%. The present invention also may be a molded article produced from the molding composition. A molded article formed from such a composition at a thickness of 0.125 inches will have a haze of less than about 50% and an instrumented impact toughness of at least 100 inch-lbs at ?20° C. to ?30° C.

Abstract: A method (and system) for contact center management contract evaluation including determining a potential profitability/risk for contact center management based upon a proposed contract term between one of a client and a service provider, and a service provider and a vendor.

Abstract: A method (and system) for contact center management contract evaluation including determining a potential profitability/risk for contact center management based upon a proposed contract term between one of a client and a service provider, and a service provider and a vendor.

Abstract: A system (and method) for allocating a contact to a vendor includes determining a real-time allocation of contact based upon one of a client-to-service provider payment structure, a service provider-to-vendor payment structure, and a real-time client contact handling demand.

Abstract: A method (and system) for allocating contacts to a vendor including determining an allocation of contacts to a vendor based upon one of a client to service provider payment structure, a service provider to vendor payment structure, and a client contact handling demand.

Abstract: Infrared (IR) radiation absorbing compounds of metal or metalloids with ligands are beneficial for many applications. Schiff base biquinone (SBB) ligands surrounding a metal or metalloid center may be used for laser welding applications, as one example, wherein effective infared radiation absorption and heat resistance are required. These compounds may be known as Schiff base biquinone metal complexes (SBBC's). The compositions and methods of this invention provide examples of many different NIR absorbing compounds that exhibit high NIR absorbing strength, good thermal stability, and relatively low visible color. The IR absorbing compounds may employ one or more of the following elements: Si, Zr, Bi, Sb, Ce, Cs, K, Mo.

Abstract: Infrared (IR) radiation absorbing compounds of metal or metalloids with ligands are beneficial for many applications. Schiff base biquinone (SBB) ligands surrounding a metal or metalloid center may be used for laser welding applications, as one example, wherein effective infrared radiation absorption and heat resistance are required. These compounds may be known as Schiff base biquinone metal complexes (SBBC's). The compositions and methods of this invention provide examples of many different NIR absorbing compounds that exhibit high NIR absorbing strength, good thermal stability, and relatively low visible color. These NIR absorbing compounds may have application in many different applications, including laser welding of thermoplastics, and in IR reflecting fabrics.

Abstract: An integrated Resource Capacity Planning (RCP) process and tool program is presented. The RCP program includes identifying future labor needs and predicted labor supply. A gap analysis between the predicted future needs and supply is performed. Based on the gap analysis, resource actions are planned and taken to alleviate predicted future labor shortages. The predicted gap analysis is later compared with actual future needs/supply to evaluate the effectiveness of the parameters used in the RCP program. The RCP program is enterprise-independent, thus permitting re-use of data and parameters, and allowing the RCP program to be scalable.

Abstract: The substitution of employees in a service engagement is a computer based method designed to consider a set of attributes that describe the resource capabilities required for delivering a services engagement and identify the actual real-world human assets that can be substituted and/or matched to these attributes. The method will produce an allocation plan that provides the set of permissible substitutes for a given resource demand, given a set of allowable substitute resources for a particular resource attribute, and substitution and matching rules for the given resource demand. A set of metrics is created that identify which substitutions are best relative to the ideal match of resources to the demand.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for allocating human resources to tasks using constraint satisfaction programming, where fictitious persons are used to satisfy required constraints, to ensure that the solution process continues until a solution is found, and capability constraints and job constraints are relaxed until a solution is found. Tasks using fictitious persons are identified, and information about task capability requirements not met and capabilities of unallocated human resources are displayed so that constraints may be relaxed and fictitious persons removed. There is provision for handling multi-task jobs where if a fictitious person is assigned to any task then all tasks will be assigned a fictitious person.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for optimizing a sourcing strategy for potential services offerings of large, multinational services organizations. This optimization method considers existing capabilities, resource skills, locations of the resources, costs of the resources, desired profit margins and other strategic sourcing policies to produce an optimized service offering staffing plan.

Abstract: Colorants are disclosed that exhibit high color strength, bright shades, and high thermal stability. Such compounds have found application as colorants for polyethylene terephthalate (“PET”). Potential end uses include disperse dyes, non-warping pigments, decolorizable colorants, and the like. Compounds and methods for synthesis include benzodifuranone related compounds, benzene centered lactones, benzene centered lactams; benzene-centered thiolactones; naphthalene-centered lactones; naphthalene-centered lactams; naphthalene-centered thiolactones; anthraquinone-centered lactones; anthraquinone-centered lactams; anthraquinone-centered thiolactones; anthracene-centered lactones; anthracene-centered lactams; anthracene-centered thiolactones; hetero-aromatic-centered lactones; hetero-aromatic centered lactams and hetero-aromatic centered thiolactone compounds, and the like. Furthermore, resins such as PET or other polymeric resins containing the compounds are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of chemical compositions useful for decolorizing recycle thermoplastics such as oxidizing agents, reducing agents, or photo-initiators combined into thermoplastics such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polycarbonates (PC), polyethylene (PE), polylactic acid (PLA), nylon, PET copolymers, acrylics, Surlyn™, or other thermoplastics. In one example, a radical initiator of a peroxide-containing compound assists in achieving decolorization of thermoplastics. The decolorizing process may increase the value of plastics for purposes of recycling.

Abstract: Novel clean fuels comprising selected nonlinear long chain saturated primary monohydric/dihydric alcohol derivatives and mixtures thereof; novel diols and/or diol derivatives; and processes for making clean synthetic jet fuels and/or clean synthetic diesel fuels as well as processes for making clean synthetic jet fuels and/or clean synthetic diesel fuels concurrently with making nonlinear alcohols for use by the detergent industry.

Abstract: Novel fatty acids and derivatives thereof such as salts, new surfactant systems comprising one or more of these compounds, consumer products such as laundry products, personal care products, pharmaceutical compositions, industrial cleaners, and the like comprising said compounds or surfactant systems.

Abstract: Individual compounds that provide effective toning (or bluing) to combat yellowing within polyester articles (such as bottles, containers, and the like) are provided. Such a novel toner permits effective neutralization of yellowness while also providing highly desirable low haze and increased brightness due to a sharp absorption peak within the needed range of wavelengths (e.g., from about 565 to 590 nm) and a narrow half-height band width. Furthermore, such an individual compound is preferably liquid in nature and may thus be incorporated within an added ultraviolet absorber solution or shelf-stable dispersion to facilitate addition within target polyesters at various stages of production. The particular UV absorbers desired as additives within target polyesters also tend to exhibit certain yellowing effects that require attention as well. The inventive single bluing agent compound thus also accords effective neutralization of such UV absorber yellowing as well.

Abstract: A fuel or fuel blendstock for jet, gas turbine, rocket, and diesel engines, particularly jet, rocket, and diesel engines that utilizes components of conventional petroleum not currently utilized for jet, gas turbine, rocket, and diesel fuels, such as benzene, linear, and lightly branched alkanes, that may be alkylated with aromatic moieties to make monoaromatics for use in jet and diesel fuels. Additionally, a fuel having such monoaromatics having multiple desired properties such as higher flash point, low pour point, increased density, better lubricity, aerobic degradability, reduction in toxicity, and additionally can deliver benefits in blendstocks.

Abstract: A fuel or fuel blendstocks for jet, gas turbine, rocket, and diesel engines, particularly jet and rocket engines utilizing components of conventional petroleum not currently utilized for jet, gas turbine, rocket, and diesel fuels, such as benzene, butanes, butanes, and methyl tert butyl ether (MTBE) alklyated with aromatic moieties to make monoaromatics used in jet and diesel fuels. Additionally, a fuel having such monoaromatics has multiple desired properties such as higher flash point, low pour point, increased density, better lubricity, aerobic degradability, reduction in toxicity, and additionally can deliver benefits in blendstocks.