Abstract: The present invention provides a fiber reinforced polymer composite having a plurality of layers containing a plurality of fibers. The layers may be configured to maintain predetermined load sharing ratios among the layers at different load levels to produce a gradual load transfer between the different layers during the progressive failure of the composite. The composite is comprised of mono-fibers and the load sharing ratios of the layers have coefficients of variation that are less than 20%.

Abstract: A patella clamping device has a handle having a first arm and a second arm, the arms each having a first gripping end and a second clamping end. The clamping ends are movable towards the opposite arm by action on the gripping end of each arm. The clamping ends of the first and second arms comprise opposed clamping surfaces. The clamping end of each arm has a body portion having spaced first and second surface defining the opposed surface of each arm. A plurality of pins extend from the first to the second surface. A rotatable toothed jaw member is pivotally mounted on each of the pins. The jaw member has at least one tooth extending outwardly of the opposed surface of each arm for engaging the patella. Each body has a third surface spaced from the second surface to create a slot for receiving a saw blade.

Abstract: Techniques for presenting content to users. The techniques include: obtaining user context information including a first keyword; identifying, based on the first keyword, a first attribute and a second attribute among the plurality of attributes, the first attribute being a characteristic of the first keyword and the second attribute being another characteristic of the first keyword; obtaining, based on the user context information, at least one second-order user preference among attributes in the plurality of attributes including a preference between the first attribute and the second attribute; identifying a set of content items among the plurality of content items based on the first attribute and the second attribute; determining a ranking of content items in the set of content items based on the at least one second-order user preference; and presenting content items to the user in accordance with the ranking.

Abstract: A system for controlling access to a downstream database management system (DMS) is provided. The system comprises an interface to maintain client connections with a plurality of upstream clients; a pooling component to establish a dynamic pool, and to selectively route each client connection to a pool; within each pool maintaining a queue comprising client database requests associated with particular client connections; and selectively granting access to the client database requests within each queue to at least one downstream DMS.

Abstract: A method for providing database management system support to a source application configured to operate with a source database management system Is provided. The method comprises detecting database management system communications issued by the source application to the source database management system and responsive to said database management systems communications, impersonating the source database management system to the source application.

Abstract: A request for a metadata object is received where the request includes an identifier. It is determined whether the metadata object is stored in a metadata cache, including by: selecting a sub-cache in the metadata cache based at least in part on the identifier and determining whether the metadata object is stored in that sub-cache. If it is determined the metadata object is not in the metadata cache, a request (in a format associated with the source) to obtain the metadata object is sent to a source with which the metadata object is associated. If the metadata object provided by the source is in a native format which is not the same as the common format, the metadata object is transformed from the native format into the common format. Access to the metadata object in the common format is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of optimizing the placement of fractures along deviated wellbores by hydraulically fracturing a well to form a complex fracture network of hydraulically connected fractures.

Abstract: Query optimizer accuracy is tested by measuring the actual execution times on a database of each of a plurality of alternative query plans for each of a plurality of queries, first ranking the plans by the actual execution times, then ranking the plans by estimated execution times, and correlating the two rankings by computing a rank correlation metric. The rank correlation metric is normalized so that different optimizers can be objectively compared.

Abstract: A method for aligning an orthopedic implant in a joint replacement includes determining the bone and cartilage deficiency from an undegenerated state caused by wear of a joint. Then a resection of a bone in the joint is made based on the deficiency of bone and cartilage from the undegenerated state and the size of a joint implant so as to locate the joint surface of the implant in the undegenerated cartilage location. The condylar wear from the undegenerated states may be assessed at a distal and posterior location on each of a medial and a lateral femoral condyle. A distal cut is made on the femur at a location adjusting for the condylar wear from the undegenerated state. The distal cut varus-valgus angle is oriented parallel to a plane across the distal femur after adjusting for wear in the distal location on the medial and lateral condyle.

Abstract: Techniques for presenting content to users. The techniques include: obtaining user context information including a first keyword; identifying, based on the first keyword, a first attribute and a second attribute among the plurality of attributes, the first attribute being a characteristic of the first keyword and the second attribute being another characteristic of the first keyword; obtaining, based on the user context information, at least one second-order user preference among attributes in the plurality of attributes including a preference between the first attribute and the second attribute; identifying a set of content items among the plurality of content items based on the first attribute and the second attribute; determining a ranking of content items in the set of content items based on the at least one second-order user preference; and presenting content items to the user in accordance with the ranking.

Abstract: A method for aligning an orthopedic implant in a joint replacement includes determining the bone and cartilage deficiency from an undegenerated state caused by wear of a joint. Then a resection of a bone in the joint is made based on the deficiency of bone and cartilage from the undegenerated state and the size of a joint implant so as to locate the joint surface of the implant in the undegenerated cartilage location. The condylar wear from the undegenerated states may be assessed at a distal and posterior location on each of a medial and a lateral femoral condyle. A distal cut is made on the femur at a location adjusting for the condylar wear from the undegenerated state. The distal cut varus-valgus angle is oriented parallel to a plane across the distal femur after adjusting for wear in the distal location on the medial and lateral condyle.

Abstract: A scalable job scheduler for a multi-thread, multi-processor system synchronizes and schedules jobs for execution by using lists and jobs counters for the numbers of active jobs. It minimizes synchronization overhead by using atomic operations for incrementing and decrementing the counters. The scheduler assigns jobs for execution, and can awake up an available thread to pick up work. A parent job spawns child jobs and maintains a job counter. Spawned jobs are added to the list for execution and the counter of waiting jobs is incremented. When execution of a job begins, the parent's counter of outstanding child jobs is decremented. A parent job is suspended until its counter of uncompleted spawned child jobs reaches zero. As a job is completed, the scheduler decrements the counter of active jobs, and assigns the next job in the queue to an available thread.

Abstract: Techniques for specifying user preferences in a semantic network. The techniques include receiving, using at least one processor, a plurality of first-order user preferences for at least one concept in a semantic network, wherein the plurality of first-order user preferences are indicative of a user's preferences among children of attributes of the at least one concept in the semantic network; receiving, using the at least one processor, at least one second-order user preference for the at least one concept in the semantic network, wherein the at least one second-order user preference is indicative of the user's preferences among attributes of the at least one concept; and performing at least one semantic processing act by using the semantic network, the plurality of first-order user preferences, and the at least one second-order user preference.

Abstract: Techniques for calculating a ranking of at least one item in a plurality of items. The techniques include receiving user preferences comprising a plurality of first-order user preferences indicative of a user's preferences for items in the plurality of items, and at least one second-order user preference indicative of the user's preferences among first-order user preferences in the plurality of first-order user preferences; calculating, with at least one processor, a ranking of the at least one item in the plurality of items based, at least in part on, at least one data structure encoding a preference graph that represents the received user preferences; and identifying and outputting at least a subset of the plurality of items to a user, in accordance with the ranking.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of hydraulically fracturing a well penetrating an subterranean formation by optimizing the spacing of fractures along a wellbore to form a complex network of hydraulically connected fractures by identifying a deviated wellbore in a subterranean formation; introducing a series of fractures in the deviated wellbore, wherein the series of fractures comprising at least a first fracture, a second fracture, a third fracture and a fourth fracture each separated by a non-uniformed and an increased spacing distance such that the spacing distance from each adjacent fracture in the series of fractures is at an increased distance; and forming one or more complex fractures extending from the series of fractures to form a complex fracture network.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of subtasks is configured to explore and assess alternative solutions for a combinatorial optimization problem by a reentrant finite state machine is represented. Each of a plurality of threads is configured to perform operations comprising a subtask until either completion or a blocked state is reached and, in the event a blocked state is reached, to move on to performing another subtask that is not currently in a blocked state.

Abstract: A method for aligning an orthopedic implant in a joint replacement includes determining the bone and cartilage deficiency from an undegenerated state caused by wear of a joint. Then a resection of a bone in the joint is made based on the deficiency of bone and cartilage from the undegenerated state and the size of a joint implant so as to locate the joint surface of the implant in the undegenerated cartilage location. The condylar wear from the undegenerated states may be assessed at a distal and posterior location on each of a medial and a lateral femoral condyle. A distal cut is made on the femur at a location adjusting for the condylar wear from the undegenerated state. The distal cut varus-valgus angle is oriented parallel to a plane across the distal femur after adjusting for wear in the distal location on the medial and lateral condyle.

Abstract: A method for aligning an orthopedic implant in a joint replacement includes determining the bone and cartilage deficiency from an undegenerated state caused by wear of a joint. Then a resection of a bone in the joint is made based on the deficiency of bone and cartilage from the undegenerated state and the size of a joint implant so as to locate the joint surface of the implant in the undegenerated cartilage location. The condylar wear from the undegenerated states may be assessed at a distal and posterior location on each of a medial and a lateral femoral condyle. A distal cut is made on the femur at a location adjusting for the condylar wear from the undegenerated state. The distal cut varus-valgus angle is oriented parallel to a plane across the distal femur after adjusting for wear in the distal location on the medial and lateral condyle.

Abstract: A method and instrument is used for inserting a bone screw through a hole in a bone plate into bone at a maximum angulation of a bone screw central longitudinal axis with respect to a central axis of the hole. The maximum angulation places the head of the bone screw at or below an outwardly facing surface of the bone plate. The instrument has a distal end including a gauge element spaced proximally from an end surface of the distal end when in contact with a counterbore surrounding the plate hole a distance less than a depth of the counterbore. The instrument is tilted with respect to a central axis of the bone plate hole to an angle wherein the gauge element remains at or below the outwardly facing surface of the bone plate adjacent the counterbore. A hole is drilled through a guide bore in the instrument.

Abstract: A modular patella trial system and method is provided. A modular patella trial includes an articular element and at least one sizing element. The articular element has a length, a width, and a thickness. The articular element has a posterior and anterior surfaces separated by their thickness. The anterior surface has protrusions extending outwardly. Any of the sizing elements have a length, width, and thickness. Any such sizing elements have posterior and anterior surfaces separated by their thickness. At least one aperture extends through the posterior and anterior surfaces of the sizing elements. Such apertures are capable of receiving a corresponding protrusion of the articular element. The modular patella trial has a thickness substantially equal to the total of the thicknesses of the articular element and the sizing elements used in conjunction with the articular element.