Abstract: A system and method for facilitating characterizing customized computing objects of a software application, such as a networked enterprise application. An example method includes identifying one or more custom computing objects of one or more software applications of a computing environment; determining one or more grouping criteria for grouping identified custom objects; grouping information pertaining to the one or more custom objects based on the one or more grouping criteria, resulting in one or more custom object groupings; and using the one or more custom object groupings, with reference to data characterizing one or more changes slated to be made to the software application, to generate one or more user interface display screens. In a more specific embodiment, the data characterizing one or more changes includes metadata characterizing core software application maintenance events, upgrades, and/or other modifications.

Abstract: Optical fiber supporting and routing apparatus is disclosed which includes a support member for attaching a multiplicity of optical fibers which are bundled together and the bundle is coiled. An attaching bracket is secured to the support member for mounting the distribution unit.

Abstract: In order to eliminate the effect of water attack on silica optical fibres, the fibres are provided with a surface layer of silicon nitride or silicon oxynitride. The method proposed includes direct nitridation. This may be achieved by adding a nitriding atmosphere to the drawing furnace gases, or to the reactive gases (TiCl.sub.4 and SiCl.sub.4) incorporated in the flame of an oxyhydrogen torch for the formation of a compressive silica/titania layer on an optical fibre by a glass soot deposition and sintering process.

Abstract: In order to eliminate the effect of water attack on silica optical fibres, the fibres are provided with a surface layer of silicon nitride or silicon oxynitride. The method proposed comprises direct nitridation. This may be achieved by adding a nitriding atmosphere to the drawing furnace gases, or to the reactive gases (TiCl.sub.4 and SiCl.sub.4) incorporated in the flame of an oxyhydrogen torch for the formation of a compressive silica/titania layer on an optical fibre by a glass soot deposition and sintering process.

Abstract: An alumina comprising particles which are aggregates or agglomerates of primary particles in which the internal porosity is provided by micropores of predetermined average width within the range 4 to 20 Angstroms and in which the pore width over the majority of the pores is within 1 Angstrom of the predetermined value, and a method for producing such an alumina by heating a particulate hydrous alumina to dehydrate it under an atmosphere in which the partial pressure of water vapor is maintained essentially constant at a predetermined value.