Abstract: A method for reorganizing a catalog to improve I/O performance includes initially placing a shared lock on a source catalog. The method then makes a point-in-time copy of the source catalog to generate a target catalog. Once the target catalog is generated, the method reorganizes the contents of the target catalog. Optionally, while reorganizing the contents of the target catalog, the method temporarily releases the shared lock on the source catalog and mirrors I/O intended for the source catalog to a buffer. The buffered I/O may then be used to update the target catalog to bring it current with the source catalog. When the target catalog is reorganized and up-to-date, the method upgrades the shared lock on the source catalog to an exclusive lock, overwrites the source catalog with the target catalog, and releases the exclusive lock. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed and claimed herein.

Abstract: Various embodiments for retaining diagnostic information for data in a computing storage environment are provided. In one such embodiment, a diagnostic component associated with a base data set via a catalog association record is initialized. The diagnostic component configured to retain base data set-specific diagnostic information retrievable by the computing storage environment to assist in error diagnosis.

Abstract: When a VTOC and a VVDS are established for information used to access data sets of a volume, unused space remains in both structures. The data sets, VTOC and VVDS are stored on a recordable medium. For VSAM data sets, other, vital information about the data set is also stored in the VTOC; for non-VSAM data sets, vital information about the data set is also stored in the VVDS. If the VOTC entry of a non-VSAM data set becomes corrupted, the vital information in the VVDS may be used to access the stored data set. Similarly, If the VVDS entry of a VSAM data set becomes corrupted, the vital information in the VTOC may be used to access the stored data set.

Abstract: A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for managing an integrated catalog facility (ICF) catalog. An ICF catalog is monitored by a contention detection module. Information related to a detected catalog resource contention is used by the contention detection module to generate a contention event. Information related to the contention event is then provided to a contention resolution module, which uses the information to perform a contention resolution operation. Once the resolution operation has been performed, contention events and contention resolution operations are reported by a contention reporting module.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product for optimizing the organization of volume records stored in a volume record data set is disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, a method may include monitoring a volume comprising multiple data sets. Each data set may have associated therewith a volume record stored in a volume record data set. The method may further include tracking read and write operations to each of the data sets over a period of time. A count value may be stored in the volume record of each data set. The count value may be increased each time a read operation is performed to the associated data set. The count value may be decreased each time a write operation is performed to the associated data set. The volume records in the volume record data set may then be reorganized according to the size of the count values.

Abstract: A method of correcting job control language (JCL) jobs scans a JCL job against a set of JCL syntax rules. The method automatically corrects any syntax errors discovered during the scanning, thereby forming a corrected JCL job. The method then runs the corrected JCL job. If the corrected JCL ends abnormally due to an execution error, the method then automatically determines if the execution error is recoverable. If the execution error is recoverable, the method automatically corrects the recoverable error to form a recovered corrected JCL job. The method reruns the recovered corrected JCL job.

Abstract: A technique for operating a storage system includes determining, based on a response (e.g., return and reason codes from catalog services) from a storage operating system, that a desired user catalog is unavailable for storage of a new dataset. A new user catalog is then dynamically created, when the desired user catalog is unavailable. An alias entry in a master catalog is then updated to point to the new user catalog, when the desired user catalog is unavailable.

Abstract: When a VTOC and a VVDS are established for information used to access data sets of a volume, unused space remains in both structures. The data sets, VTOC and VVDS are stored on a recordable medium. For VSAM data sets, other, vital information about the data set is also stored in the VTOC; for non-VSAM data sets, vital information about the data set is also stored in the VVDS. If the VOTC entry of a non-VSAM data set becomes corrupted, the vital information in the VVDS may be used to access the stored data set. Similarly, If the VVDS entry of a VSAM data set becomes corrupted, the vital information in the VTOC may be used to access the stored data set.

Abstract: A method of providing maintenance for a software program residing on a customer's computer system enables a customer to easily determine if there are any available updates for the software program, whether the available updates, if any, have been downloaded, which updates, if any, have been installed, and which installed updates, if any, have been activated. The method includes searching an active storage area on the customer's computer system while the software program is executing to determine the particular version of the software program. The method further includes searching a database of a software provider that provided the software program to determine if there is any update available for the software program, and if any update is available, downloading the update to the customer's computer system and installing the update.

Abstract: DNA constructs are provided of epitope-tagged proteins or protein fragments which are conveniently purified with immunoaffinity chromatography such as epitope-tagged prion proteins (PrP). Transgenic animals expressing an epitope-tagged protein are provided, including transgenic animals expressing epitope-tagged PrP. Methods for distinguishing between the conformational shapes of a protein and a convenient method for isolating a tagged protein by immunoaffinity chromatographic methods are provided.

Abstract: A method of sterilizing objects as well as the sterilized objects obtained from the method are disclosed. The method involves contacting an object such as a medical device to be reused with polycationic dendrimer under conditions which result in rendering a conformationally altered protein (e.g. a prion) non-infectious. A disinfecting agent or surgical scrub composition which comprises the dendrimers is also disclosed as are gelatin capsules treated with polycationic dendrimers.

Abstract: An assay comprises contacting cells containing a conformationally altered protein with test compound and determining if the altered protein is cleared. The cells may be scrapie-infected neuroblastoma cells. Another assay comprises contacting organ or tissue homogenate (at pH 5.0 or less) with test compound to determine if altered protein in the homogenate is 10 cleared. The homogenate may be brain homogenate from a transgenic mouse infected with human prions. Compounds which are found to clear the altered protein are useful in preventing, arresting and/or reversing (i.e. treating) a disease associated with the conformationally altered protein.

Abstract: A method of sterilizing objects as well as the sterilized objects obtained from the method are disclosed. The method involves contacting an object such as a medical device to be reused with polycationic dendrimer under conditions which result in rendering a conformationally altered protein (e.g. a prion) non-infectious. A disinfecting agent or surgical scrub composition which comprises the dendrimers is also disclosed as are gelatin capsules treated with polycationic dendrimers.

Abstract: An assay comprises contacting cells containing a conformationally altered protein with test compound and determining if the altered protein is cleared. The cells may be scrapie-infected neuroblastoma cells. Another assay comprises contacting organ or tissue homogenate (at pH 5.0 or less) with test compound to determine if altered protein in the homogenate is cleared. The homogenate may be brain homogenate from a transgenic mouse infected with human prions. Compounds which are found to clear the altered protein are useful in preventing, arresting and/or reversing (i.e. treating) a disease associated with the conformationally altered protein.

Abstract: A method of sterilizing objects as well as the sterilized objects obtained from the method are disclosed. The method involves contacting an object such as a medical device to be reused with polycationic dendrimer under conditions which result in rendering a conformationally altered protein (e.g. a prion) non-infectious. A disinfecting agent or surgical scrub composition which comprises the dendrimers is also disclosed as are gelatin capsules treated with polycationic dendrimers.

Abstract: DNA constructs are provided of epitope-tagged proteins or protein fragments which are conveniently purified with immunoaffinity chromatography such as epitope-tagged prion proteins (PrP). Transgenic animals expressing an epitope-tagged protein are provided, including transgenic animals expressing epitope-tagged PrP. Methods for distinguishing between the conformational shapes of a protein and a convenient method for isolating a tagged protein by immunoaffinity chromatographic methods are provided.

Abstract: Transgenic animals are produced which animals have (1) their endogenous PrP gene ablated; and (2) have an exogenous PrP gene from a genetically diverse animal. The transgenic animal is preferably a mouse, rat or hamster with mice being particularly preferred. The exogenous PrP gene is preferably from a sheep, cow, or pig with cow PrP genes being particularly preferred. When a mouse of the invention is inoculated with a sample containing prions which generally only infects a genetically diverse species (e.g. a cow) the mouse will become ill within about 250 days or less. Methods of producing the transgenic animals are disclosed including (1) microinjecting a mouse egg (having an ablated endogenous PrP gene) with a bovine PrP gene, or (2) breeding a mouse with an ablated PrP gene with a mouse with a bovine PrP gene. Mice produced are used to test samples for the presence of prions which generally only infect cows.

Abstract: The invention includes an artificial PrP gene, a transgenic animal containing a PrP gene of another animal or the artificial PrP gene, a hybrid non-human mammal with an ablated endogenous prion protein gene and exogenous prion protein gene, assay methodology which uses the animals to detect pathogenic prions in a sample or diagnose a cause of death and standardized prion preparation used in the assay. The genome of a host animal (such as a mouse), is manipulated so that the animal is rendered susceptible to infection with prions which normally would infect only a genetically diverse test animal (such as human, cow or sheep). Pathogenic prions in a sample can be detected by injecting the sample to be tested into a mammal of the invention which has been genetically manipulated so as to be susceptible to infection from prions in the sample.

Abstract: The invention includes an artificial PrP gene, a transgenic animal containing a PrP gene of another animal or the artificial PrP gene, a hybrid non-human mammal with an ablated endogenous prion protein gene and exogenous prion protein gene, assay methodology which uses the animals to detect pathogenic prions in a sample and standardized prion preparation used in the assay. The genome of a host animal (such as a mouse), is manipulated so that the animal is rendered susceptible to infection with prions which normally would infect only a genetically diverse test animal (such as human, cow or sheep). A PrP gene of the host is preferably manipulated to include a mutation which matches a mutation which causes prion disease in the genetically diverse mammal. Pathogenic prions in a sample can be detected by injecting the sample to be tested into a mammal of the invention which has been genetically manipulated so as to be susceptible to infection from prions in the sample.

Abstract: DNA constructs are provided of epitope-tagged proteins or protein fragments which are conveniently purified with immunoaffinity chromatography such as epitope-tagged prion proteins (PrP). Transgenic animals expressing an epitope-tagged protein are provided, including transgenic animals expressing epitope-tagged PrP. Methods for distinguishing between the conformational shapes of a protein and a convenient method for isolating a tagged protein by immunoaffinity chromatographic methods are provided.