A chronological display device depicting a displayed event and a continuous time display informing the viewer of continuous time intervals from the unchanging event to the present time or the remaining time to a future unchanging event.

Distributed transaction and lock management techniques are disclosed that manage and regulate access to distributed data. A lock manager module is provided for regulating access to resources by applications in a system having a number of nodes each communicatively coupled to a network. The module can be configured to be fault tolerant. In one embodiment, the module uses a totally ordered transport that imposes total ordering protocols on messaging between nodes. The module can exploit the multic...

A method for controlling a variable parameter during a processing of a semiconductor device includes selecting a beginning and an ending value; selecting a function governing how the parameter is to be transitioned; initializing the parameter to the beginning value; and automatically transitioning the parameter according to the selected function. Another method includes selecting a criterion; determining a beginning value; receiving an input; determining from the input whether the parameter need...

There is disclosed an integrated project management and risk management system. A risk processor has access to a project data store containing a plurality of inter-related project actions used for project management purposes, and a risk data store which contains a plurality of inter-related project activities and associated risk indicators used for related risk management purposes. The risk processor is operable to generate and write to the risk data store changes to the project activities and r...

Mixtures of sorbitol fatty acid esters useful as low calorie fat substitutes are prepared through a direct esterification process. The process entails the direct esterification of sorbitol with free fatty acids, optionally in the presence of an esterification catalyst. The resulting sorbitol esters have an average degree of hydroxyl substitution ranging from about 3 to about 5.5. This partial esterification leads to a mixture of esters capable of serving as low calorie fat substitutes without un...