Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally provide a system, method and article of manufacture for managing federated queries. In general, the availability of one or more databases targeted by a federated query may be determined prior to running the federated query against the targeted databases. In response to determining one or more of the targeted databases are unavailable, a user may be notified. The user may also be presented with options for running the federated query. The options may include being notified when all of the targeted databases are available, automatically running the federated query (in the background) when all of the targeted databases are available, and modifying the query to run against currently available databases.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and systems for laser micro-machining, which may include dividing a long line illumination field into a plurality of individual fields, wherein each of the plurality of fields includes an aspect ratio of about 4:1 or greater, directing the plurality of individual fields onto at least one mask, wherein each individual field illuminates a corresponding area on the mask and translating the mask and/or workpiece relative to one another along a scan axis.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for accessing data in a database independent of the particular manner in which the data is physically represented and for providing an abstract representation of the data in the database. One embodiment provides a method of architecting a logical representation of physical data in a database comprising providing a template data abstraction model defining template logical fields, and providing, on the basis of the template data abstraction model, a logical representation of the physical data, the logical representation defining a plurality of logical fields providing an abstract view of the physical data and adapted for transforming logical fields of abstract queries into a form consistent with the physical data in the database.

Abstract: Methods, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for providing secure access to data. Public UDTFs, private UDTFs and a metadata processor are utilized to facilitate secure access to data residing in a variety of data repositories.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and systems for micromachining a conical surface. In one embodiment, such a system may include a rotating platform for receiving a long line of laser illumination, a mask having a predetermined pattern comprising a sector of a planar ring, the mask being positioned on the rotating platform, a workpiece stage having a rotational axis for rotating a removably-affixed workpiece comprising a conical surface, wherein the sector comprises the planar image of the conical surface, an excimer laser for producing a laser beam, a homogenizer for homogenizing the laser beam in at least a single direction, at least one condenser lens, a turning mirror and at least one projection lens.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for managing an annotation system that includes storing annotations for a document family, i.e., a series of versions of a data source. Annotations created for one version of the data source may be viewed in context from both subsequent and prior versions of the same data source. Embodiments of the invention associate annotations with both a data source “family identifier” as well as a “version identifier.” Other than adding a family ID to the data source, the data source remains unchanged. The family ID is maintained across different versions of the data source, whereas version IDs are determined for a specific version of the data source. Version IDs can be constructed from each data source directly, and do not need to be stored.

Abstract: Methods, systems and articles of manufacture are provided for accessing data within data repositories. Public UDTFs, private UDTFs and a metadata processor are utilized to provide access to data residing in a variety of data repositories.

Abstract: A foot prosthesis having improved rollover and stability. The prosthesis includes a first plate and a mounting block having a mounting portion configured to be coupled to a user of the prosthesis, an attachment portion and a gap portion, with the mounting block attached to the first plate at the attachment portion with a gap between the mounting block gap portion and the first plate. Also included is a resilient element positioned at least partially within the gap, the resilient element configured generally to dissipate stress in the first plate and control deflection between the first plate and the mounting block. The mounting block may be substantially rigid with the area of the first plate attached to the mounting block becoming substantially rigid while the remainder of the first plate is at least partially flexible. The resilient element may be interchangeable to adjust performance of the prosthesis.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for proving global annotation services are disclosed. Global annotations are used to annotate a data element independently from the internal representation of a data element employed by a particular software application. Data elements are normalized into a form used by a global annotation system to identify the data element, and corresponding global annotations, independent from the application in which the data element may appear. An annotation cache may be used to store the global annotations that have been created for a particular data source, improving the efficiency of the global annotation system.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for managing structured data presented in a hierarchical format are provided. The structured data may contain repeating fields or repeating groups of fields. Ordinal values indicating an order in which the repeating fields or field groups occur in the structured data may be created and stored with the structured data in relational tables. Upon retrieval, the ordinal values may be used to reconstruct the structured data with data for the various fields in the original order in the hierarchical format in which it was presented.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for managing annotations made for a variety of different type data objects manipulated (e.g., created, edited, and viewed) by a variety of different type applications are provided. Some embodiments allow users collaborating on a project to create, view, and edit annotations from within the applications used to manipulate the annotated data objects, which may facilitate and encourage the capturing and sharing of tacit knowledge through annotations. Further, annotations may be stored separate from the application data they describe, decoupling the tacit knowledge captured in the annotations from the applications used to manipulate the annotated data.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for accessing data in a database independent of the particular manner in which the data is physically represented and for providing an abstract representation of the data in the database. One embodiment provides a method of architecting a logical representation of physical data in a database comprising providing a template data abstraction model defining template logical fields, and providing, on the basis of the template data abstraction model, a logical representation of the physical data, the logical representation defining a plurality of logical fields providing an abstract view of the physical data and adapted for transforming logical fields of abstract queries into a form consistent with the physical data in the database.

Abstract: An improved method, system, and article of manufacture for issuing a query against multiple data sources that may not each contain all the fields involved in the query is provided. A diverse query targeting the multiple data sources may be decomposed into individual query predicates. For each data source, an effective query may be generated by removing, from the diverse query, individual predicates involving fields not contained in the data source. Partial results received in response to issuing the effective queries against their corresponding data sources may be merged using any suitable technique.

Abstract: A method, apparatus article of manufacture for writing debug data into hidden fields or an electronic document. In some embodiments, debug data is written into hidden fields of an HTML or XML document, which may include visible data, including the results requested by a user. In contrast, the debug data contained in the hidden fields is kept hidden even after rendering the visible portions of the electronic document until, for example, the user takes explicit steps specifically directed to viewing the debug data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally provide a system, method and article of manufacture for managing federated queries. In general, the availability of one or more databases targeted by a federated query may be determined prior to running the federated query against the targeted databases. In response to determining one or more of the targeted databases are unavailable, a user may be notified. The user may also be presented with options for running the federated query. The options may include being notified when all of the targeted databases are available, automatically running the federated query (in the background) when all of the targeted databases are available, and modifying the query to run against currently available databases.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of dispersion compensation comprising the steps of:

Abstract: A method of producing a composite film by forming a substrate layer of polymeric material having an at least one surface a heat-sealable layer and applying a particulate additive to the exposed surface of the heat-sealable layer with the particulate additive bonding to and/or penetrating into the heat-sealable layer.The exposed surface of the heat-sealable layer has greater than 100 surface protrusions per mm2 produced by the particulate additive. The surface protrusions have an average peak height in the range from 5 to 400 nm measured from the average level of the surface of the heat-sealable layer.

Abstract: A golf club having a shaft, a head secured to one end of the shaft and a grip handle secured to the other end of the shaft. A light generator and an energy source positioned in operative connection to generate a plurality of light beams emanating from the club head hitting surface on opposite sides of a centrally located "sweet spot," respectively. The light beams converging toward and intersecting an imaginary line extending from the "sweet spot" generally perpendicularly to the surface and through the center of the golf ball to be hit by the club.

Abstract: A multilayer film comprises a substrate layer of polymeric material having on a first surface thereof a polyester heat-sealable layer, and on a second surface thereof a thermoset acrylic resin backing layer. The backing layer is preferably a discontinuous coating. The heat-sealable layer is optionally coated with a release layer, preferably a polyurethane resin release layer.

Abstract: With reference to FIG. 1, a continuous mixer 1 comprises a housing 2 formed with intersecting cylindrical chambers 3 and 4, and a pair of substantially parallel shafts 5 and 6, mounted for rotation within the housing. Paddle members 10 and 11 are mounted on the shafts 5 and 6 so that when the shafts are rotated, each in the same direction, the peripheral parts of the paddle members on one shaft are wiped by the cooperating parts of the paddle members on the other shaft, and vice versa. As shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, the end faces of each paddle member are formed with lobes, the number of lobes at one end face of the member being different to that at the opposite end face. The arrangement results in continuous distribution, re-orientation and dispersal of material flowing through the mixer.