Abstract: A smoke device comprises a container, a base/base plate, a plate having at least one exit hole, a blend of chemicals contained in the container and a mechanical means by which generated smoke is prevented from directly exiting through the at least one exit hole without first being redirected in one or more directions. The mechanical means by which generated smoke is prevented from directly exiting through the at least one exit hole without first being redirected in one or more directions may include a plurality of baffles which have at least one hole therein and a plurality of chambers formed by the plurality of baffles. The plurality of baffles is placed in a staggered formation such that the hole(s) formed in each baffle is offset from the hole(s) in an adjacent/neighboring baffle.

Abstract: Techniques for performing space accounting for volume families. The techniques include maintaining two counters for each volume family, including a first counter that tracks a first amount of physical space allocated to volumes in the volume family based on the number of pages written to the volumes, and a second counter that tracks a second amount of physical space owned by the volume family, and maintaining a third counter for each volume in each branch of the volume family that tracks a number of pages among a total number of pages written to the volume that were overwritten in the immediate sequential next volume in the same branch as the volume. By maintaining, for each volume family, the first counter and the second counter, and, for each volume in the volume family, the third counter, space accounting metrics can be obtained that allow data storage activities to be performed efficiently.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, apparatus, and system for a method for implementing a mutual-exclusion semantic for target update, the method comprising: receiving a tagset update request for a tagset associated with an object, the tagset update request comprising one or more metadata tags to be updated; determining whether updating the tagset based on the received tagset update request would cause a value of any existing metadata tag in the tagset to change; and in response to determining that updating the tagset based on the received tagset update request would cause a value of at least one existing metadata tag in the tagset to change, rejecting the tagset update request.

Abstract: Provided are systems, methods, and computer-program products for a contextual connection system. In various implementations, the system can receive data corresponding to an interaction between a first node and a second node. The system can use an interaction history associate the first node with a subset of other nodes. The system can receive input corresponding to a search, where the search is associated with the third node. The search requests a list of nodes, where nodes in the list of nodes are likely to accept a connection request from the third node. The system can determine similarity between the third node and the second node. Determining the similarity can further include using the similarity and a result of searching to identify the context associated with the first node. The system can add the first node to the list of nodes, and respond to the search with the list of nodes.

Abstract: A dethatcher includes a frame having front and rear ends, a cover coupled to the frame and configured to selectively move between an open position and a closed position, a handle extending from the frame, multiple wheels coupled to the frame, a cutting reel housed in the frame, and an engine for powering a drive mechanism of the shaft. The cutting reel includes a shaft having a first end and a second end, at least one cutting mechanism located between the first end and the second end of the shaft, and the drive mechanism for powering the shaft. When the cover is in the open position, a user may access the cutting reel from a top end of the frame.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and device for a file system log. In some embodiments, there is provided a computer-implemented method. The method comprises: in response to receiving a write request for metadata associated with a first transaction, determining at least one zone associated with the first transaction from a plurality of zones of the metadata, the plurality of zones being formed by striping the metadata; requesting a resource slice for the at least one zone from a resource pool of a logging system; and recording to the resource slice a log that the first transaction modifies the at least one zone.

Abstract: A multifunctional medical optical examination instrument including a hand-holdable portion, at least an optical examination head portion mountable on the hand-holdable portion and including at least optical examination and non-digitized viewing optics and image digitization, storage and transmission circuitry included in at least one of the hand-holdable portion and the at least optical examination head portion, the image digitization, storage and transmission circuitry being arranged to receive an image from at least a portion of the at least optical examination and non-digitized viewing optics.

Abstract: A storage array uses paged metadata. Each storage director has access to a plurality of object storage subsystems in a global memory. The object storage subsystems describe locations of paged metadata in backing storage. Each object storage subsystem includes a unique identifier, a pointer to a descriptive data structure that indicates availability of free space for paged metadata for that object storage subsystem, and different types of inodes which describe objects in backing storage. The object storage subsystems are used to locate metadata for loading into global memory, and creation and deletion of objects.

Abstract: A system for mechanically transmitting power from a common rotational drive shaft of a seeding implement to a geared outer periphery of a seed meter. The system includes a first transmission that connects to common rotational drive shaft, a flexible drive shaft coupled to the first transmission, and a second transmission coupled to the opposite end of the flexible drive shaft. A clutch assembly connects to a flexible drive shaft assembly to selectively allow power to be transmitted from the first transmission to the second transmission. The second transmission connects to the periphery of the seed meter. The seed plate of the seed meter includes a circumferential gear along a periphery to be driven by the second transmission.

Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle having variable opacity windows that includes customer convenience functions such as transitioning a window to transparent when the vehicle is in use as a ride-sharing vehicle and detects picking up a new passenger; or transitioning the window to transparent when a signal is received from an emergency vehicle.

Abstract: Techniques for multiple message retrieval for secure electronic communication are described. The techniques, for instance, utilize a server and computing devices employing a private information retrieval scheme to allow a receiving device to locate multiple electronic communications on a server, request delivery of the multiple electronic communications without the server being aware of which electronic communication are requested, and receive the electronic communications without the server being aware of which electronic communications were sent. For example, the server may utilize an efficient electronic communication storage structure for storing and retrieving multiple electronic communications.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for hydrofluorination of an olefin of the formula: RCX?CYZ to produce a hydrofluoroalkane of formula RCXFCHYZ or RCXHCFYZ, wherein X, Y, and Z are independently the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, and C1-C6 alkyl which is partially or fully substituted with chloro or fluoro or bromo; and R is a C1-C6 alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted with chloro or fluoro or bromo, comprising reacting the olefin with HF in the liquid-phase, in the presence of SbF5, at a temperature ranging from about ?30° C. to about 65° C. and compositions formed by the process.

Abstract: A method including coordinating displaying a personalized list of recommended items on a graphical user interface of a user electronic device of a user. Coordinating displaying can occur after applying a first set of rules to historical sales data available to a retailer to detect a personal replenishment cycle for an item of a set of items purchased by the user. The personal replenishment cycle for the item purchased by the user can comprise an estimated time period of how often the user purchases the item. The historical sales data can comprise a record of the user purchasing the item on one or more dates. Coordinating displaying further can occur after applying a second set of rules to identify if the user has stopped purchasing the item. Coordinating displaying also can occur after applying a third set of rules to the personal replenishment cycle for the item to identify the personalized list of recommended items for the user to consider replenishing. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to limiting the use of an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle by particular occupants based on permission data. More specifically, permission data may include destinations, routes, and/or other information that is predefined or set by a third party. The vehicle may then access the permission data in order to transport the particular occupant to the predefined destination, for example, without deviation from the predefined route. The vehicle may drop the particular occupant off at the destination and may wait until the passenger is ready to move to another predefined destination. The permission data may be used to limit the ability of the particular occupant to change the route of the vehicle completely or by some maximum deviation value. For example, the vehicle may be able to deviate from the route up to a particular distance from or along the route.