Abstract: An integrated system organizes a company's experiences, operating procedures, best practices, information sources, competitive information and analytical tools. The goal is increasing profitability within a due diligence process while facilitating ongoing operations. The system incorporates a method for collaborating on due diligence issues to affect knowledge building within due diligence teams. The method includes accessing stored, accumulated knowledge in a repository from prior due diligence exercises, applying to due diligence decisions criteria based on consolidated analytical building blocks of past due diligence exercises and storing newly accumulated knowledge from the current due diligence exercise into the repository of accumulated knowledge.

Abstract: A message broker data processing apparatus comprising: a unit for receiving published messages on a topic from a plurality of publisher applications; a unit for processing the received messages; and a unit for distributing the processed messages to a subscriber application; wherein the unit for receiving includes a plurality of publication point data processing nodes, each of which receives published messages on the topic from a publisher application.

Abstract: A method of valuation of groups of assets by partial full underwriting, partial sample underwriting and inferred values of the remainder using an iterative and adaptive statistical evaluation of all assets. Statistical inferences drawn from the evaluation are applied to generate the inferred values. The assets are collected into a database, catagorized, subdivided by ratings as to those variables and then rated individually. The assets are then regrouped according to a bidding grouping and a collective valuation is established. Simulated bid scenarios are examined for combinations of bid prices and a best bid price according to risk and return is determined.

Abstract: A method of valuation of large groups of assets by partial full underwriting, partial sample underwriting and inferred values of the remainder using an iterative and adaptive statistical evaluation of all assets and statistical inferences drawn from the evaluation and applied to generate inferred values. Individual asset values are developed and listed in tables so that individual asset values can be taken and quickly grouped in any desired or prescribed manner for bidding purposes. The assets are collected into a database, divided by credit variable, subdivided by ratings as to those variables and then rated individually. The assets are then regrouped according to a bidding grouping and a collective valuation established by cumulating the individual valuations.

Abstract: Provided is an architecture for enabling business components to access middleware components in a runtime environment. A business container hosts business components and services to enable communication between the business components. A plurality of infrastructure components expose interfaces and methods to the business components, wherein the exposed interfaces and methods have names descriptive of a business domain for which the business applications are written. The infrastructure components implementation of the interfaces and methods exposed to the business components include calls to the middleware application programming interfaces (APIs) to invoke middleware APIs to cause middleware operations.

Abstract: A method of valuation of large groups of assets by partial full underwriting, partial sample underwriting and inferred values of the remainder using an iterative and adaptive supervised and unsupervised statistical evaluation of all assets and statistical inferences drawn from the evaluation and applied to generate the inferred asset values. Individual asset values are developed and listed in realtional tables so that individual asset values can be rapidly taken from the tables and quickly grouped in any desired or prescribed manner for bidding purposes. The assets are collected into a database, divided into categories by credit variable, subdivided by ratings as to those variables and then rated individually. The assets are then regrouped according to a bidding grouping and a collective valuations established by cumulating the individual valuations.

Abstract: A method of inferring valuation of large groups of assets by credit scores includes the steps of organizing valuation scores, adjusting valuation scores based on special factors and business decisions, reconciling multiple valuation scores which describe the same assets and making an overall adjustment to override the inferred valuation. Individual asset values are developed and listed in tables so that individual asset values can be rapidly taken from the tables and quickly grouped for bidding purposes. The valuations are collected into a database, divided into categories by credit variable, subdivided by ratings as to those variables and then rated individually.

Abstract: A method of valuation of large groups of assets by a partial full underwriting, partial sample underwriting and inferred valuation of the remainder using an iterative and adaptive statistical evaluation of all assets and statistical inferences drawn from the evaluation and applied to generate inferred asset values. Individual asset values are developed and listed so that individual asset values can be rapidly taken and quickly grouped in any manner for bidding purposes. The assets are collected into a database, divided into categories, subdivided by ratings and then rated individually. Asset value is continuously recalculated based on progressively improving asset valuation data. The assets are then regrouped for bidding and a collective valuation is established by cumulating individual valuations.

Abstract: A radar assembly comprises a ground plane, a plurality of clips inserted into the ground plane, and a plurality of strips. At least one first strip is provided on a first subset of the clips. The first strip has a plurality of radiating elements and a first plurality of slots. At least one second strip is provided on a second subset of the clips and on the at least one first strip. The second strip has a plurality of radiating elements and a second plurality of slots that mate with the slots of the at least one first strip.

Abstract: A method of valuation of large groups of assets by partial full underwriting, partial sample underwriting and inferred values of the remainder using an iterative and adaptive supervised and unsupervised statistical evaluation of all assets and statistical inferences drawn from the evaluation and applied to generate the inferred asset values. Individual asset values are developed and listed in relational tables so that individual asset values can be rapidly taken from the tables and quickly grouped in any desired or prescribed manner for bidding purposes. The assets are collected into a database, divided into categories by credit variable, subdivided by ratings as to those variables and then rated individually. The assets are then regrouped according to a bidding grouping and a collective valuations established by cumulating the individual valuations.

Abstract: A method of valuation of large groups of assets using an iterative and adaptive statistical evaluation to generate asset values is described. Individual asset values are developed and listed so that individual asset values can be rapidly taken and quickly grouped in any desired or prescribed manner for bidding purposes. One method of automated underwriting includes defining clusters of financial instruments by common attributes, receiving an expert opinion of value from selected samples of the clusters, checking values for combinations of attributes and reconciling the values. A collective valuation of the assets is established by cumulating the individual valuations.

Abstract: An exercise device comprising an elongate, substantially upright and substantially rigid weight-bearing portion which includes a gripping portion extending across the top of the device, the weight bearing portion having an open bottom and generally lying in a first plane; a pair of feet, one at either end of the weight-bearing portion, extending outwardly to stabilize the upright weight-bearing portion without interfering with the open bottom, the feet being spaced apart to permit the positioning of a user between the feet and be clear of interference from the feet. The feet and weight-bearing portion are configured so that the mass of the device is generally balanced about said first plan.

Abstract: A method for fabricating radar array apertures comprises the steps of: inserting a plurality of clips into a ground plane, mounting at least one first strip on a first subset of the clips and mounting at least one second strip on a second subset of the clips and on the at least one first strip so as to form an assembly. The first strip has a plurality of radiating elements and a first plurality of slots. The second strip has a plurality of radiating elements and a second plurality of slots that mate with the slots of the at least one first strip.

Abstract: A radar assembly comprises a ground plane, a plurality of clips inserted into the ground plane, and a plurality of strips. At least one first strip is provided on a first subset of the clips. The first strip has a plurality of radiating elements and a first plurality of slots. At least one second strip is provided on a second subset of the clips and on the at least one first strip. The second strip has a plurality of radiating elements and a second plurality of slots that mate with the slots of the at least one first strip.

Abstract: Provided are an execution monitoring tool, a method and a computer program product for monitoring a message processing program or system. The execution monitoring tool identifies locations within the message processing program corresponding to a predefined set of execution progress stages, and inserts execution progress report generator components at these locations. Execution progress reports (including a representation of the message contents and structure) are then sent to the execution monitoring controller which maps the report data to its own representation of the program to determine the current position within an execution program. The message contents and structure, as well as the structure of the program and the current execution position, are displayed during execution on a test system. The execution reports include the current execution status as well as the position within the execution flow.

Abstract: Methods for determining a vibratory excitation spectrum are tailored to physical characteristics of a structure having critical elements located thereon to be subjected to vibration testing, such as a PCB to which connectors, resistors, capacitors, inductances, Integrated Circuits (IC) or Ball Grid Array components (BGA) are mounted. The physical characteristics includes a frequency response function corresponding to a testing environment temperature and defined in term of power spectral density amplitude over a global excitation frequency range for the vibratory excitation spectrum and characterized by a plurality of power spectral density amplitude peaks corresponding to a plurality of natural resonance frequencies, each being associated with respective mode shape and damping factor.

Abstract: Methods for determining a vibratory excitation spectrum are tailored to physical characteristics of a structure having critical elements located thereon to be subjected to vibration testing, such as a PCB to which connectors, resistors, capacitors, inductances, Integrated Circuits (IC) or Ball Grid Array components (BGA) are mounted. The physical characteristics includes a frequency response function corresponding to a testing environment temperature and defined in term of power spectral density amplitude over a global excitation frequency range for the vibratory excitation spectrum and characterized by a plurality of power spectral density amplitude peaks corresponding to a plurality of natural resonance frequencies, each being associated with respective mode shape and damping factor.

Abstract: A modal analysis method and apparatus for acoustically determining vibration characteristics of a structure uses a MISO model. An acoustic excitation signal toward spatially distributed locations associated with the structure is generated while the latter is held vibrated, one location being chosen as reference. Complementary sets of input acoustic pressure-related signals are produced, one being a reference signal. Fourier analysis is performed on the input signals to provide correlated input acoustic pressure-related data in frequency domain including reference data. Induced output vibration is sensed at a reference point on the structure corresponding to the reference to produce complementary sets of output vibration signals, which are converted through Fourier analysis into sets of output vibration data in frequency domain. Structural transfer functions characterizing each set of input acoustic pressure-related data are obtained from which vibratory characteristics of the structure are derived.

Abstract: Provided are an execution monitoring tool, a method and a computer program product for monitoring execution of an hierarchical visual program. Execution progress reports are sent to an execution monitoring controller which maps the report data to its own representation of the hierarchical program to determine the current position within an execution program. The hierarchical structure of the program and the current execution position are displayed during execution on a test system. The execution monitoring controller maintains an hierarchical representation of the visual program's structure, builds an execution stack from the execution progress reports, and compares the received reports with the hierarchical representation to determine a current execution position. The execution reports include the current execution status as well as the position within the execution flow.

Abstract: A semiautomatic packaging machine utilizes a single servo motor to rotate a belt around single track, providing linear motion to two opposing loaders attached to the belt. As one loader approaches a retrieval area, an operator manually positions an article or group of articles with a unit of packaging material onto an infeed conveyor. Upon sensing the presence of the material to be packaged, a sensor sends a signal to a processor. The processor controls the servo motor and an elevating component to adjust the horizontal and vertical position of the loader to synchronize the positions of the loader and the article(s). The loader removes the article(s) from the infeed conveyor, and transports them through a closer or other packaging element. The packaged articles are released into a discharge area as a second loader simultaneously approaches the retrieval area to repeat the process.