Abstract: A method may include obtaining merchant data for a plurality of merchants, adjusting the merchant data to obtain adjusted data based upon a ratio of data types in the merchant data, performing a first filtering operation on the plurality of merchants for identifying a first subset of small business merchants from the plurality of merchants, performing a second filtering operation on the first subset of small business merchants for identifying a second subset of small business merchants, applying one or more rules to the adjusted data of the second subset of small business merchants associated with a pre-determined criteria to obtain processed data for the second subset of small business merchants, calculating an index value for the second subset of small business merchants, and generating a report analyzing a trend based on the index value, the report comprising additional information for the second subset of small business merchants.

Abstract: In an approach for optimizing job preemption using a scheduling mechanism that considers dynamic and static information, a processor, responsive to a pending job being selected to be run, determines that no computing hosts within a computing cluster have available resources capable of running the pending job and non-preemptive measures will not provide required resources for the pending job. A processor identifies candidate jobs for preemption and dynamic information and static information for each candidate job. A processor ranks the candidate jobs for preemption based on the dynamic information and the static information for each candidate job. A processor attempts to preempt a top N candidate jobs whose released resources in combination with the available resources of the computing cluster satisfy the required resources of the pending job. A processor, responsive to successfully preempting the top N candidate jobs, initiates the pending job.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for optimizing usage and providing recommendations to users in a hybrid cloud environment. Specifically, user configuration data and deadline for job execution for a job to be executed is collected. A broker queries available queues to determine a wait time corresponding to each of the available queues for the job based on the user configuration data. The wait times are compared to the deadline for job execution. If the deadline cannot be met, a machine learning module suggests modifications to the user configuration to reduce wait times and meet the deadline.

Abstract: The system comprises a first display mounted in a fixed position, a computer system coupled to the first display and a handheld computing device, wherein the first display is larger than the second display, the first display has a wider field of view than the second display, the first display establishes an optical link with the second display, the first display and the second display renders a virtual reality model of a scene with moving objects and asynchronous visual events. The handheld computing device is configured to scan machine-readable code embedded in asynchronous visual events, the result of scanning indicates location of the asynchronous visual events and transmits the location of the synchronous visual events to one or more remote computing devices using one or more wireless link, and in response to transmission of the location, modify the virtual reality model of the scene rendered on the first display.

Abstract: A method, computer system, and a computer program product for host validation is provided. The present invention may include receiving a job from a user. The present invention may include selecting, by a scheduler, a host in a hybrid cloud environment to run the received job. The present invention may include classifying, by a learning component, the selected host's subsystems. The present invention may include determining, based on the classification, that the selected host can run the received job.

Abstract: The system comprises a first display mounted in a fixed position, a computer system coupled to the first display and a handheld computing device, wherein the first display is larger than the second display, the first display has a wider field of view than the second display, the first display establishes an optical link with the second display, the first display and the second display renders a virtual reality model of a scene with moving objects and asynchronous visual events. The handheld computing device is configured to scan machine-readable code embedded in asynchronous visual events, the result of scanning indicates location of the asynchronous visual events and transmits the location of the synchronous visual events to one or more remote computing devices using one or more wireless link, and in response to transmission of the location, modify the virtual reality model of the scene rendered on the first display.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, a computer system and a computer program product for releasable resource-based preemptive scheduling. One or more currently running workloads are determined to be preempted by a pending workload. Releasable resources from the one or more currently running workloads meet required resources of the pending workload. The pending workload is dispatched so that it uses at least part of the releasable resources from the one or more currently running workloads to run.

Abstract: Apparatus (200) for measuring the particle-size distribution of a sample by light-scattering comprises a focusing optic (202) for producing a converging beam (203) generally along a propagation axis z. The apparatus comprises a mounting system which allows a dry sample cell (208A) and a wet sample cell (208B) to be mounted in the converging beam at different times and in respective planes which are mutually inclined so that in use of the apparatus respective positions (212, 214) at which transmitted light is focused for the two cells have a difference in displacement from the z axis that is less than for the case where the respective planes are substantially parallel. This allows use of a cheaper and less complex translation stage within the apparatus for mounting an optical detector for locating the two focus positions.

Abstract: A system for improving workload performance using data locality and workload placement may include a schedule module that schedules workloads for execution on a computing device in one or more computing devices. Also, the computing devices access a shared data storage. Further, the system may include a tracking module that maintains a data store that associates paths in the shared data storage with dispatched workloads and associates the paths with at least one computing device, wherein a dispatched workload and the at least one computing device accessed a path; and a preferred device identification module that identifies preferred computing devices in the one or more computing devices for executing undispatched workloads based on information in the data store, wherein the schedule module schedules the execution of the undispatched workloads in response to the identified preferred computing devices.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, a computer system and a computer program product for releasable resource-based preemptive scheduling. One or more currently running workloads are determined to be preempted by a pending workload. Releasable resources from the one or more currently running workloads meet required resources of the pending workload. The pending workload is dispatched so that it uses at least part of the releasable resources from the one or more currently running workloads to run.

Abstract: A system for improving workload performance using data locality and workload placement may include a schedule module that schedules workloads for execution on a computing device in one or more computing devices. Also, the computing devices access a shared data storage. Further, the system may include a tracking module that maintains a data store that associates paths in the shared data storage with dispatched workloads and associates the paths with at least one computing device, wherein a dispatched workload and the at least one computing device accessed a path; and a preferred device identification module that identifies preferred computing devices in the one or more computing devices for executing undispatched workloads based on information in the data store, wherein the schedule module schedules the execution of the undispatched workloads in response to the identified preferred computing devices.

Abstract: Apparatus (100) for measuring particle size distribution by light scattering comprises a blue LED (102) and a 633 nm helium neon laser (104). Light output from the LED and laser is separately passed or reflected by a dichroic element (116) onto a common path through a sample cell (122) containing a sample, the particle size distribution of which is to be measured. Light scattered from the sample cell is detected by one or more detectors (112B-H). Light transmitted by the sample cell is detected by detectors 112A, 112J. Output signals from one or more of the detectors are passed to a computation unit (114) which calculates particle size distribution. A small percentage of light from the blue LED is reflected by the dichroic element to a detector (110). Similarly, a small percentage of light from the laser is passed by the dichroic element to the detector. Output signals from the detector are fed back to control units (106, 108) to stabilize the output power of the LED and laser.

Abstract: A particle characterisation apparatus is disclosed comprising: a first light source; a second light source, a sample cell; a first detector and a second detector. The first light source is operable to illuminate a first region of a sample comprising dispersed particles within the sample cell with a first light beam along a first light beam axis so as to produce scattered light by interactions of the first light beam with the sample. The first detector is configured to detect the scattered light. The second light source is operable to illuminate a second region of the sample with a second light beam along a second light beam axis. The second detector is an imaging detector, configured to image the particles along an imaging axis using the second light beam. The first light beam axis is at an angle of at least 5 degrees to the second light beam axis.

Abstract: Apparatus (100) for measuring particle size distribution by light scattering comprises a blue LED (102) and a 633 nm helium neon laser (104). Light output from the LED and laser is separately passed or reflected by a dichroic element (116) onto a common path through a sample cell (122) containing a sample, the particle size distribution of which is to be measured. Light scattered from the sample cell is detected by one or more detectors (112B-H). Light transmitted by the sample cell is detected by detectors 112A, 112J. Output signals from one or more of the detectors are passed to a computation unit (114) which calculates particle size distribution. A small percentage of light from the blue LED is reflected by the dichroic element to a detector (110). Similarly, a small percentage of light from the laser is passed by the dichroic element to the detector. Output signals from the detector are fed back to control units (106, 108) to stabilise the output power of the LED and laser.

Abstract: Apparatus (200) for measuring the particle-size distribution of a sample by light-scattering comprises a focusing optic (202) for producing a converging beam (203) generally along a propagation axis z. The apparatus comprises a mounting system which allows a dry sample cell (208A) and a wet sample cell (208B) to be mounted in the converging beam at different times and in respective planes which are mutually inclined so that in use of the apparatus respective positions (212, 214) at which transmitted light is focused for the two cells have a difference in displacement from the z axis that is less than for the case where the respective planes are substantially parallel. This allows use of a cheaper and less complex translation stage within the apparatus for mounting an optical detector for locating the two focus positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a light beam for use in a diffraction instrument (1) includes a device (10; 17; 28) for generating a light beam; and means (12, 21; 24) for shaping the light beam generated by the device (10; 17; 28), dimensioned, in use, to determine the beam shape, and including: an aperture (21; 25) and means (13; 24) for rejecting spatial frequency components above a certain range in the light beam. The apparatus further includes a spatial low-pass filter (14; 15; 26; 27) arranged to filter a beam provided by the beam shaping means.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a light beam for use in a diffraction instrument (1) includes a device (10; 17; 28) for generating a light beam; and means (12, 21; 24) for shaping the light beam generated by the device (10; 17; 28), dimensioned, in use, to determine the beam shape, and including: an aperture (21; 25) and means (13; 24) for rejecting spatial frequency components above a certain range in the light beam. The apparatus further includes a spatial low-pass filter (14; 15; 26; 27) arranged to filter a beam provided by the beam shaping means.

Abstract: A multi-mode mobile wireless communications device architecture (200) including an application layer (210), a services layer (220) interfacing the applications layer, a multi-mode layer (230) interfacing the service layer, and a hardware layer (240) interfacing the multi-mode layer. The multi-mode layer includes first and second interoperable radio access technologies, for example W-CDMA UMTS and GSM/GPRS technologies.

Abstract: A multi-mode mobile wireless communications device architecture (200) including an application layer (210), a services layer (220) interfacing the applications layer, a multi-mode layer (230) interfacing the service layer, and a hardware layer (240) interfacing the multi-mode layer. The multi-mode layer includes first and second interoperable radio access technologies, for example W-CDMA UMTS and GSM/GPRS technologies.