Abstract: A method for producing a duplication of a database stored in an external storage by writing over copy data of the database with update log data which was acquired after acquisition of the copy data. This method is implemented in a computer system having a virtual storage operating system. The system includes a virtual storage area which is defined as having virtual pages which have a one-to-one correspondence to blocks in an external copy data storage, where the virtual pages are the database copy data is stored and in an order according to physical addresses of the blocks. Each update log data is acquired in units of the blocks. A control table is provided which includes control values which have a one-to-one correspondence to the virtual pages. A control value from the control table is set when the update log data is set to the virtual pages.

Abstract: A method of controlling execution of a series of jobs includes the steps of executing the series of jobs sequentially, determining jobs to be rerun in the series of jobs as rerun jobs in accordance with the file access information when one of the series of jobs is terminated abnormally, the file access information indicating access to each of the files by each of the jobs, and rerunning the rerun jobs. When the rerun jobs are determined, the necessity of access to each of the files by each of the rerun jobs is determined in accordance with the file access information, and access to the files by each of said rerun jobs is selectively skipped in accordance with the result of determining the necessity of the access. Furthermore, when the series of jobs are executed, the files are allocated to an allocatable storage device in accordance with the file access information so that the jobs to be rerun become minimal.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for automatically trading of items such as stocks with improved security. After receiving an initial identifying contact from a contractor, a trader will contact the contractor with a different communication device from the initial contact with confirmation information that was stored in association with a contractor first identifying code. The contractor must then reconfirm the fairness of the trading data using at least a portion of the confirmation information.

Abstract: In a knowledge data management apparatus, the impact of the methods for acquiring knowledge data are digitized as storage impact numbers which represent the importance degree of being stored, the storage impact numbers are stored together with the knowledge data, the storage impact numbers are changed in accordance with the elapsed storage time, frequency of use and object in which the knowledge data is used, and the knowledge data having a smaller storage impact number than a predetermined value on the basis of a manageable amount of the knowledge data are canceled.

Abstract: In a data dictionary directory system, the definition information to be registered in a dictionary is registered being divided into several definition units. A data base system registers the definition information and confirms the coordination of the contents of definition among the definition units. The definition information is registered without confirming the coordination. The coordination is confirmed when it becomes necessary to confirm the coordination among the definition informations registered in the dictionary.

Abstract: In a database having a dictionary/directory, the dictionary/directory is processed to form a directory using information in the dictionary, or is processed for other purposes. A process record including identification information associated with the process is stored in the dictionary/directory. In a dictionary deletion process, the stored record is designated and read out such that associated information indicated by the process record is also deleted in a batch manner.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning and feeding elongated pieces, having a rotary drum which is provided on one side of a passage of the elongated pieces extending in the lengthwise direction thereof and which is rotatable about an axis parallel to the passage. The drum has peripheral receiving grooves spaced from one another at a constant pitch. A pushing cam is located in front of the drum to push the elongated pieces into the receiving grooves of the drum one by one. Below the drum are provided threaded shafts having spiral grooves for receiving the elongated pieces from the drum and conveying them in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the rotation of the drum. An aligning wall is provided on one side of the threaded shafts to align the elongated pieces during the conveyance thereof.

Abstract: Ethanol is prepared with high selectivity by the catalytic reaction of carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

Abstract: The invention provides an efficient method for controlling the flow rate of a particulate material through a pneumatic transportation pipe at a preset value with a high accuracy and rapid response to an external disturbance added to the system by controlling the flow rate of the booster gas. Different from conventional methods in which the flow rate of the booster gas is controlled with the feedforward factor of the variation in the actual flow rate of the particulate material, the inventive method utilizes the variation in the pressure in the receiving unit as the feedback to control the flow rate of the booster gas so that the above mentioned advantages are obtained in the accuracy of control and rapidness of the response to an external disturbance.

Abstract: In a process for producing an oxygen-containing hydrocarbon compound having 1 or 2 carbon atoms which comprises reacting a gaseous mixture of a carbon oxide and hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, the improvement wherein said hydrogenation catalyst is a catalyst composition comprising(A) substantially metallic rhodium,(B) an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of metals of Groups, IIa, IIIa, IVa and Va of the periodic table of short form, and(C) silica or(i) substantially metallic rhodium,(ii) an element selected from the group consisting of niobium, tantalum, chromium, manganese and rhenium,(iii) an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of metals of Groups IIIa, IVa and Va of the periodic table of short form, and(iv) silica.

Abstract: A method of producing .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated ethers, which comprises decomposing an acetal having at least one hydrogen atom bonded to a carbon atom contiguous to the carbon atom of the group ##STR1## in its molecule in the presence of a calcium phosphate catalyst to produce a reaction product containing the corresponding .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated ether.