Abstract: A computer-implemented method of categorizing a customer includes steps of selecting a measure on which the status of the customer is to be analyzed, selecting a calculation period and selecting a comparison method. A lifecycle factor may then be computed, the lifecycle factor being related to both the size and the growth of the customer according to the selected measure. Both the size and growth are determined over two selected calculation periods using the selected comparison method. Selected customers may then be categorized into one of a plurality of lifecycle stages by evaluating a plurality of categorization criteria, at least one of the plurality of categorization criteria including the computed lifecycle factor. For example, the lifecycle stages may include the stages of New, Growing, Stable, Declining, Defected and/or Insignificant.

Abstract: Compounds are provided which have the structure wherein Q is C or N, X1 is C or N, and R1, R2, R2a, R2b, R2c, R3, Y, A, m, n, X2, X3 and X4 are as defined herein, which compounds are useful as antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, and antiobesity agents.

Abstract: Various apparatus and methods are provided for lubricating hard memory disks. A mandrel is provided in one embodiment with three rows of teeth and provides a stable, three-point engagement with the inside edge of the disks at the center aperture. When removing disks from a cassette, the mandrel preferably places a uniform space between the disks. In a second embodiment, the mandrel may be used to lubricate single-sided hard memory disks. The single-sided hard memory disk may be positioned on the mandrel in pairs in a gap merge orientation, or equally spaced apart.

Abstract: Various apparatus and methods are provided for lubricating hard memory disks. A mandrel is provided in one embodiment with three rows of teeth and provides a stable, three-point engagement with the inside edge of the disks at the center aperture. When removing disks from a cassette, the mandrel preferably places a uniform space between the disks. In a second embodiment, the mandrel may be used to lubricate single-sided hard memory disks. The single-sided hard memory disk may be positioned on the mandrel in pairs in a gap merge orientation, or equally spaced apart.

Abstract: A power supply for powering an electrical load, the electrical load generating load characteristic data that determines a power supply characteristic to be provided to the electrical load from the power supply, the power supply comprising a voltage regulator for generating an output voltage to be provided as the input voltage for powering the electrical load, the voltage regulator being responsive to a reference signal for setting a characteristic of the power supply, and a control circuit for generating the reference signal for the regulator, the control circuit being responsive to the load characteristic data from the electrical load and to a selection input for selecting the type of electrical load from a plurality of electrical load types, whereby the selection input determines the type of electrical load to enable the load characteristic data to be evaluated by the control circuit to generate the reference signal for the regulator.

Abstract: A process and composition for manufacturing printed wiring boards that reduces or eliminates the problem of depositing electroless nickel in through holes that are not designed to be metal plated is provided. Also provided by the present invention is a method and composition for depositing a final finish that is even and bright. The present invention is particularly suitable for the manufacture of printed circuit boards containing one or more electroless nickel-immersion gold layers.

Abstract: Compounds are provided which have the structure wherein Q is C or N; R2a, R2b, R2c, X1 to X7, R1, R2, R3, R3a, R4, A, Y, m, and n are as defined herein, which compounds are useful as antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, and antiobesity agents. The present invention further provides a method for treating obesity and dyslipidemia in mammals including humans through simultaneous inhibition of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-? (PPAR?) and stimulation of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-? (PPAR?).

Abstract: Compounds are provided which are useful as antidiabetic agents and antiobesity agents and have the structure wherein m is 0, 1 or 2; n is 0, 1 or 2; Q is C or N; A is (CH2)x where x is 1 to 5, or A is (CH2)x1 where x1 is 1 to 5 with an alkenyl bond or an alkynyl bond embedded anywhere in the chain, or A is —(CH2)x2—O—(CH2)x3— where x2 is 0 to 5 and x3 is 0 to 5, provided that at least one of x2 and x3 is other than 0; B is a bond or is (CH2)x4 where x4 is 1 to 5; X is CH or N; X2 is C, N, O or S; X3 is C, N, O or S; X4 is C, N; O or S; X5 is C, N, O or S; X6 is C, N, O or S; provided that at least one of X2, X3, X4 X5 and X6 is N; and at least one of X2, X3, X4 X5 and X6 is C, and specifically excluding the structure(s) as shown below: where X2?N, X3?C, X4?O or S, Z=O or a bond R1 is H or alkyl; R2 is H, alkyl, alkoxy, halogen, amino or substituted amino or cyano; R2a, R2b and R2c may be the same or different and are selected from H, alkyl, alkoxy, halogen, amino or substituted amino or c

Abstract: Compounds are provided which have the structure wherein Q is C or N, A is O or S, Z is O or a bond, X is CH or N and R1, R2, R2a, R2b, R2c, R3, Y, x, m, and n are as defined herein, which compounds are useful as antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, and antiobesity agents.

Abstract: A process, computer program product, and apparatus for detecting and quantifying crosstalk instability in a read/write mechanism are provided. A write current is varied in a write circuit for exciting the write head. Measurements are taken of a magnetoresistive impedance of a read current of a read circuit. Measurements are also taken of a signal amplitude in the read circuit. A bit error rate of the overall system is also measured. The read/write mechanism is failed if the signal amplitude changes by a predetermined amount during the varying of the write current. Likewise, the read/write mechanism is failed if the error rate changes by a predetermined amount during the varying of the write current. The write-to-read signal coupling of HGA (Head Gimbal Assembly) and HSA (Head Stack Assembly), including GMR sensor, suspension and flex cable on the actuator arm, can be evaluated at component design level. The methodologies successfully simulate GMR cross talk instability inside a drive on magnetic testers.

Abstract: A process, computer program product, and apparatus for detecting and quantifying crosstalk instability in a read/write mechanism are provided. A write current is varied in a write circuit for exciting the write head. Measurements are taken of a magnetoresistive impedance of a read current of a read circuit. Measurements are also taken of a signal amplitude in the read circuit. A bit error rate of the overall system is also measured. The read/write mechanism is failed if the signal amplitude changes by a predetermined amount during the varying of the write current. Likewise, the read/write mechanism is failed if the error rate changes by a predetermined amount during the varying of the write current. The write-to-read signal coupling of HGA (Head Gimbal Assembly) and HSA (Head Stack Assembly), including GMR sensor, suspension and flex cable on the actuator arm, can be evaluated at component design level. The methodologies successfully simulate GMR cross talk instability inside a drive on magnetic testers.

Abstract: A process and composition for manufacturing printed wiring boards that reduces or eliminates the problem of depositing electroless nickel in through holes that are not designed to be metal plated is provided. Also provided by the present invention is a method and composition for depositing a final finish that is even and bright. The present invention is particularly suitable for the manufacture of printed circuit boards containing one or more electroless nickel-immersion gold layers.

Abstract: A method of determining a magnetic track width of a magnetic head. The method begins by obtaining a full track profile of the magnetic head which includes a plurality of signal amplitudes read across a track of a magnetic disk at a plurality of magnetic head positions. An initial magnetic track width value is then determined from the full track profile data. Preferably, this initial value is the magnetic write width which is determined based on the difference between left and right head positions which read half of the maximum signal amplitude. To determine the final magnetic write width, the initial value is adjusted with side reading correction values. The side reading correction values are determined based on left and right side reading “tails” of a bell-shaped signal curve which is formed by the full track profile data when graphed. It is not necessary to obtain the microtrack profile to determine these side reading values.

Abstract: A method of determining a magnetic track width of a magnetic head is disclosed. The method begins by obtaining a full track profile of the magnetic head which includes a plurality of signal amplitudes read across a track of a magnetic disk at a plurality of magnetic head positions. An initial magnetic track width value is then determined from the full track profile data. Preferably, this initial value is the magnetic write width which is determined based on the difference between left and right head positions which read half of the maximum signal amplitude. To determine the final magnetic write width, the initial value is adjusted with side reading correction values. The side reading correction values are determined based on left and right side reading “tails” of a bell-shaped signal curve which is formed by the full track profile data when graphed. It is not necessary to obtain the microtrack profile to determine these side reading values.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining the presence of response abnormalities in magnetic sensors. The method includes placing the sensor in an applied magnetic field and collecting sensor resistance information as the magnitude and direction of the applied field is altered. The resistance values are then examined to determine the presence of response abnormalities.

Abstract: Various apparatus and methods are provided for lubricating hard memory disks. A mandrel is provided in one embodiment with three rows of teeth and provides a stable, three-point engagement with the inside edge of the disks at the center aperture. When removing disks from a cassette, the mandrel preferably places a uniform space between the disks. In a second embodiment, the mandrel may be used to lubricate single-sided hard memory disks. The single-sided hard memory disk may be positioned on the mandrel in pairs in a gap merge orientation, or equally spaced apart.

Abstract: A nonlinear transition shift (NLTS) measurement procedure for read/write heads employing a giant magnetoresistive (GMR) merged heads. The method of this invention includes the pulse-shape distortion effects on recording nonlinearity, which can significantly affect the existing theoretical formulae for calculating nonlinearity correction factor from measured partial erasure values, and second-order approximation of equation of NLTS and nonlinearity correction factor. Transition broadening effects (TBE) and partial erasure (PE) are incorporated in the NLTS measurement procedure to permit accurate isolation of the NLTS from the unrelated TBE/PE and GMR nonlinear transfer characteristic (NTC). First, a fifth harmonic elimination (5HE) test is performed at bit period T to measure a first nonlinearity value X.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining the presence of response abnormalities in magnetic sensors. The method includes placing the sensor in an applied magnetic field and collecting sensor resistance information as the magnitude and direction of the applied field is altered. The resistance values are then examined to determine the presence of response abnormalities.

Abstract: A holder is mounted on a tapered container having a rim. Radial portions on the holder extend past the rim and serve as fingerholds to support the container, and as a splash guard to resist spillage from the container's contents. A cylindrical skirt on the holder bounds an annular space with the container for increased thermal insulation.

Abstract: A method and system for the rapid automatic screening of GMR heads for Barkhausen noise during production. This system rapidly and repeatedly measures associated noise in a GMR head subjected to a smoothly-varying external transverse magnetic field. The repeated Transverse Magnetic-field Excited Noise (TMEN) measurements are automatically sorted into bins to form a histogram, which is then automatically evaluated to develop TMEN range and weighted sum measures, which are then compared with predetermined standards for automatic acceptance or rejection of the GMR head under test. The GMR sensor Barkhausen noise is quantified through the use of a bandpass filter to remove all direct sensor responses, leaving only the noise signals, which are then repeatedly sampled to develop valid statistical Barkhausen noise measures suitable for automated analysis.