Abstract: The present invention relates generally to hybrid organic-inorganic adsorbents for decontamination of fluids. Bridged poysilsesquioxanes are a family of hybrid organic-inorganic materials prepared by sol-gel processing of monomers that contain a variable organic bridging group and two or more trifunctional silyl groups. Specifically, the present invention relates to dipropylenedisulfide-co-phenylene-bridged polysilsesquioxane compositions, methods of making dipropylenedisulfide-co-phenylene-bridged polysilsesquioxanes, and methods of use of dipropylenedisulfide-co-phenylene-bridged polysilsesquioxanes. The present invention discloses properties of dipropylenedisulfide-co-phenylene-bridged polysilsesquioxanes that include high ligand loading, increased surface area, and increased porosity. These properties make dipropylenedisulfide-co-phenylene-bridged polysilsesquioxanes excellent adsorbents for decontamination of fluids for use in environmental and industrial processes.

Abstract: Provided are methods, data processing systems, recovery components and computer programs for recovering from storage failures affecting data repositories. At least a part of the recovery processing is performed while the data repositories are able to receive new data and to allow retrieval of such new data. Although new data items may be received into the repository and retrieved therefrom during recovery processing, updates to the data repository which were performed before the failure and which are then restored to the repository by the recovery processing are restored within a recovery unit of work and are inaccessible to processes other than the recovery process until successful completion of the recovery unit of work. The recovery processing ensures that the recovered repository is consistent with the state of the repository at the time of the failure, but is available for addition and retrieval of new data items before completion of the recovery processing.

Abstract: For processing messages in a messaging system comprising a source and a destination queue manager, an uncommitted message is received from an application at the source queue manager. This is transmitted to the destination queue manager and received thereat. When it is determined that the message is uncommitted, it is stored in memory, rather than placing the message on a receive queue for processing by another application. If it is determined that the uncommitted message has been committed by the application which originated the uncommitted message, then it is placed on the receive queue.

Abstract: To enable adaptive monitoring of the resource, metrics about the workload received at the resource from one or more clients are used to derive monitoring feedback comprising a recommendation as to how the monitoring should be performed. This is then used as input to a decision making process controlling the monitoring of the resource. The recommendation may be for the monitor to increase or decrease its monitoring interval. The resource may decide to increase or decrease its monitoring depth or checking, or may suggest a new monitoring depth to the monitor.

Abstract: Responsive to a client application initiating a synchronous communication with a server application by sending a request via an asynchronous communication manager, one or more checks are performed to identify a cause of any failure to provide a response to the client application satisfying synchronous communication criteria. The results of one or more checks are used to determine whether to back out any data updates performed by/on behalf of the server application in response to the request.

Abstract: A data processing system for message handling comprises a coupling facility for receiving messages, the coupling facility arranged to maintain a queue of messages, and a database for storing messages. A component, such as a server, of the system is arranged to detect that a message is of a size above a predetermined threshold, and therefore stores this larger message in the database and enters a proxy in the queue of messages.

Abstract: A method of operating a messaging system comprising receiving a message, creating a list element for the message, the list element comprising expiry data and a reference to the message, appending the list element to an expiry list, periodically deleting list elements from the expiry list that correspond to consumed messages and transferring list elements that correspond to unconsumed messages from the expiry list to a time sorted expiry index, and traversing the expiry index deleting those messages that have expired.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, apparatus, computer program and computer program product for adjusting the frequency at which data is backed up. This involves receiving a target recovery time. A current estimated recovery time is then determined and the current and target times are compared. If it is determined that the current estimated recovery time has reached a predetermined threshold relative to the received target recovery time a new backup should be initiated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery that certain non-naturally occurring, non-peptide amide compounds and amide derivatives, such as oxalamides, ureas, and acrylamides, are useful flavor or taste modifiers, such as a flavoring or flavoring agents and flavor or taste enhancer, more particularly, savory (the “umami” taste of monosodium glutamate) or sweet taste modifiers,—savory or sweet flavoring agents and savory or sweet flavor enhancers, for food, beverages, and other comestible or orally administered medicinal products or compositions.

Abstract: A data item is retrieved from a data store in a data processing system. The data processing system comprises an index, which at least partially indexes the data store, and also a partiality definition store. The partiality definition store indicates a part of the data store which is referenced by the partial index. A request is received for a data item from the data store and responsive to determining that the requested data item is not referenced by the partial index, the data store is searched by using the partiality definition store to avoid searching a part of the data store which is known to be indexed.

Abstract: A device for installing and removing a removable computer component, such as a data storage drive or computer card, into or out of a computer housing. The device features a drive sled to which the data storage drive is mounted. A stationary carrier tray is secured to the computer housing. Interlocking angled tracks on the drive sled and the carrier tray secure the two structures together. To promote easy coupling of the drive's electrical interface connectors, the front end of the drive sled has a floating guide plate with forward-projecting locating pins, which pins are used to align the electrical connectors held by the floating guide plate. A rack and pinion mechanism is provided. The rack is disposed on the top of the carrier tray while the pinion is located on the underside of the drive sled. As the drive sled slides onto the carrier tray, the lever-actuated pinion gear engages the rack and consequently displaces the drive sled relative to the stationary carrier tray.

Abstract: A microfiche reader assembly especially suitable for use in a desk drawer of typical size is disclosed herein. This assembly includes a housing, a projection screen, a microfiche support arrangement for supporting a microfiche for movement within a given rectangular operating area and an optical arrangement cooperating with the supported microfiche for projecting an enlarged image of a section of the microfiche on to the screen when the microfiche is in its operating area. While this assembly requires more room than the standard desk drawer allots during use, it is made sufficiently collapsible to fit entirely within the confines of the drawer when not in use so as to allow the drawer to be closed. However, at the same time, the assembly is expandable for use within the drawer when the latter is opened, whereby the assembly does not have to be removed.

Abstract: A microfiche reader is disclosed herein and includes an assembly for supporting a microfiche in a given area, a projection screen and an optical arrangement for providing an image of a segment of the microfiche on the screen. This arrangement utilizes a dual projection lens assembly and a dual condenser lens assembly which cooperate with one another so that the magnification of the projected image can be easily varied between two levels. As disclosed, the dual projection lens assembly itself includes two distinct projection lenses which are contained in collapsible housings. Moreover, each of these latter lenses is adjustably focused by rotational movement of its associated housing and remains in the focusing position selected unless its housing is again rotated.