public List<StickyRecord> removeExpiredStickyFlags() {
   List<StickyRecord> removed = _sticky.removeExpired();
   try {
     if (!removed.isEmpty()) {
       makeStatePersistent();
     }
   } catch (IOException e) {
     _logBussiness.error("Failed to store repository state: " + e.getMessage());
   }
   return removed;
 }