Abstract: A decimal floating-point instruction is executed in a round-for-reround mode. The decimal floating-point instruction is configured to perform a decimal floating-point operation on a decimal floating-point operand. The executing includes forming based on performing the decimal floating-point operation, an intermediate result having a high order portion and a low order portion. The high order portion has a least significant digit. A rounded-for-reround number is created from the intermediate result. The rounded-for-reround number includes the high order portion of the intermediate result and based on the least significant coefficient digit of the high order portion being a selected value and based on the low order portion having another selected value, the least significant digit of the rounded-for-reround number is incremented. The rounded-for-reround number is stored.

Abstract: A decimal floating-point instruction is executed in a round-for-reround mode. The decimal floating-point instruction is configured to perform a decimal floating-point operation on a decimal floating-point operand. The executing includes forming based on performing the decimal floating-point operation, an intermediate result having a high order portion and a low order portion. The high order portion has a least significant digit. A rounded-for-reround number is created from the intermediate result. The rounded-for-reround number includes the high order portion of the intermediate result and based on the least significant coefficient digit of the high order portion being a selected value and based on the low order portion having another selected value, the least significant digit of the rounded-for-reround number is incremented. The rounded-for-reround number is stored.

Abstract: An instruction is executed in round-for-reround mode wherein the permissible resultant value that is closest to and no greater in magnitude than the infinitely precise result is selected. If the selected value is not exact and the units digit of the selected value is either 0 or 5, then the digit is incremented by one and the selected value is delivered. In all other cases, the selected value is delivered.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an RFID tag assembly, the method comprising: providing a mounting base made of an electrically conductive material; providing a passive mount-on-metal RFID tag, the RFID tag comprising an IC chip and an antenna provided on one side; mounting the RFID tag on the mounting base with said one side of the RFID tag coupled to the mounting base, to form an RFID tag-mounting base sub-assembly; providing a mold tool comprising a mold cavity shaped to form a cover of the RFID tag assembly and locating the RFID tag-mounting base sub-assembly within the mold cavity; and delivering a substantially RF transparent material in a molten state into the void between the mold tool and the RFID tag-mounting base sub-assembly and allowing the material to cool into a solid state to form a cover over the RFID tag-mounting base sub-assembly, such that the mounting base and the cover together encapsulate the RFID tag.

Abstract: An instruction is executed in round-for-reround mode wherein the permissible resultant value that is closest to and no greater in magnitude than the infinitely precise result is selected. If the selected value is not exact and the units digit of the selected value is either 0 or 5, then the digit is incremented by one and the selected value is delivered. In all other cases, the selected value is delivered.

Abstract: A method of categorising vegetation is disclosed, the method comprising: inputting and storing in a memory information related to a ground observation; determining the identity of the vegetation of said observations corresponding to an existing memory entry; determining a characteristic for said vegetation in dependence on said ground observation; and updating said memory with said characteristic.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an RFID tag assembly, the method comprising: providing a mounting base made of an electrically conductive material; providing a passive mount-on-metal RFID tag, the RFID tag comprising an IC chip and an antenna provided on one side; mounting the RFID tag on the mounting base with said one side of the RFID tag coupled to the mounting base, to form an RFID tag-mounting base sub-assembly; providing a mold tool comprising a mold cavity shaped to form a cover of the RFID tag assembly and locating the RFID tag-mounting base sub-assembly within the mold cavity; and delivering a substantially RF transparent material in a molten state into the void between the mold tool and the RFID tag-mounting base sub-assembly and allowing the material to cool into a solid state to form a cover over the RFID tag-mounting base sub-assembly, such that the mounting base and the cover together encapsulate the RFID tag.

Abstract: An RFID tag assembly (10) comprising: a passive mount-on-metal RFID tag (12) comprising an integrated circuit chip and an antenna provided on one side (14) of the RFID tag; a mounting base (16) made of an electrically conductive material; and a cover (18) made of a substantially RF transparent material and defining a recess (18a), wherein the RFID tag is mounted on the mounting base with said one side of the RFID tag coupled to a first side of the mounting base and wherein the cover is arranged over the RFID tag such that at least part of the RFID tag is located within the recess and the cover is fixed to the mounting base, such that the mounting base and the cover together encapsulate the RFID tag.

Abstract: Surgical instrument RFID tag reading apparatus (10) comprises an interrogation zone (12) for receiving a surgical instrument set (14) comprising: a plurality of surgical instruments, each having a respective RFID tag containing identification information; an RFID tag reader (16); RF antenna (18) arranged to transmit an RF signal (20) and arranged to receive RF return signals from at least some of the RFID tags; guidance apparatus (22) arranged to cause predetermined relative movement between the RFID tags on the surgical instruments and the RF signal; and a controller (24) arranged to: receive the surgical instrument identification information from the RFID tag reader for each RFID tag from which an RF return signal is received; compare the received surgical instrument identification information with a surgical instrument list of the set; and; determine whether surgical instrument identification information has been received for each of the surgical instruments on the surgical instrument list, and if not, gen

Abstract: An RFID tag assembly (10) comprising: a passive mount-on-metal RFID tag (12) comprising an integrated circuit chip and an antenna provided on one side (14) of the RFID tag; a mounting base (16) made of an electrically conductive material; and a cover (18) made of a substantially RF transparent material and defining a recess (18a), wherein the RFID tag is mounted on the mounting base with said one side of the RFID tag coupled to a first side of the mounting base and wherein the cover is arranged over the RFID tag such that at least part of the RFID tag is located within the recess and the cover is fixed to the mounting base, such that the mounting base and the cover together encapsulate the RFID tag.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for multi-path replication in databases are described herein. A non-limiting embodiment includes instantiating a plurality of replicate connections to a replicate database, providing transactions to the replicate database through a plurality of transaction streams, where the transaction streams associated with respective instantiated replicate connections. Transactions occurring in distinct transaction streams are applied, in parallel, at the replicate database. Another non-limiting embodiment includes instantiating a plurality of replication sender threads, where the replication sender threads communicate in parallel with respective replication servers over respective replication paths. Data sharing one or more attributes can be bound to a replication path in communication with the respective replication servers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for strengthening a pole comprising a support element for supporting the pole; and fastening means for securing the support element to the pole; wherein the fastening means comprises a pair of mutually engaging fastening parts, including a bolt part and a corresponding nut part adapted to engage with the bolt part; and wherein the support element comprises an aperture adapted to receive a first one of the pair of fastening parts, and wherein at least one of the aperture and the first fastening part is shaped to prevent rotation of the first fastening part when located in the aperture.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for multi-path replication in databases are described herein. A non-limiting embodiment includes instantiating a plurality of replicate connections to a replicate database, providing transactions to the replicate database through a plurality of transaction streams, where the transaction streams associated with respective instantiated replicate connections. Transactions occurring in distinct transaction streams are applied, in parallel, at the replicate database. Another non-limiting embodiment includes instantiating a plurality of replication sender threads, where the replication sender threads communicate in parallel with respective replication servers over respective replication paths. Data sharing one or more attributes can be bound to a replication path in communication with the respective replication servers.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for multi-path replication in databases are described herein. A non-limiting embodiment includes instantiating a plurality of replicate connections to a replicate database, providing transactions to the replicate database through a plurality of transaction streams, where the transaction streams associated with respective instantiated replicate connections. Transactions occurring in distinct transaction streams are applied, in parallel, at the replicate database. Another non-limiting embodiment includes instantiating a plurality of replication sender threads, where the replication sender threads communicate in parallel with respective replication servers over respective replication paths. Data sharing one or more attributes can be bound to a replication path in communication with the respective replication servers.

Abstract: A mechanism for executing fixed point divide operations using a floating point multiply-add pipeline are provided. With the mechanism, the floating point execution unit in a processor is modified to include elements that may be used to perform fixed point divide operations. These additional elements include a leading zero counter, a leading one counter, an estimate table unit, and a state machine. The fixed point divide operands are converted to a floating point format and an estimate of the reciprocal of the divisor is generated using estimate tables. These values are used in multiple passes through the floating point unit for calculating estimates of the quotient and corresponding error values. The estimates of the quotient are based on previous estimates of the quotient in a prior pass through the floating point unit and a corresponding error value. The final quotient estimate is truncated.