Abstract: An apparatus includes a data sequencing engine configured to receive first data and an identification of a first data container associated with the first data and to allocate the first data to a first data stream of multiple data streams based on the identification. The apparatus further includes at least one memory configured to store the first data container. The data sequencing engine is further configured to cause the at least one memory to send data in the first data stream to a flash memory in response to detecting a data size of the first data stream satisfies a threshold.

Abstract: A method includes accessing, in response to initiating an operation targeting data, auxiliary mapping data to determine whether the auxiliary mapping data includes an indication of a key associated with a node of a hierarchical data structure that is associated with the data. In response to the auxiliary mapping data including the indication of the key, the data is accessed from a memory using a node identification associated with the key. In response to the auxiliary mapping data not including the indication of the key, the data is accessed from the memory using a search operation.

Abstract: A memory controller detects a request, with a key to a data object and a value, to perform an operation. The memory controller locates the data object by mapping the key to a location of the data object in a tiered data structure and identifies a sequence number of the data object. When the sequence number of the data object is greater than a sequence number of a snapshot of the tiered data structure, the memory controller replaces the data object with a modified data object, including the key and the value, and assigns the modified object a unique sequence number. When the sequence number of the data object is less than the sequence number of the snapshot, the memory controller inserts a new data object, including the key and the value, into the tiered data structure and assigns the new data object the unique sequence number.

Abstract: An adjustable surf wake system enhances a wake formed by a watercraft travelling through water. The system may include a flap for deflecting water traveling past the stern of the watercraft, and/or a positioner operably connected to the flap for positioning the flap relative to a longitudinal axis of the watercraft between a neutral position and an outward position. Positioning a port flap in its extended position enhances a starboard surf wake, and positioning the starboard flap in its extended position enhances a port surf wake.

Abstract: A storage device may be configured to determine a delay associated with execution of a read operation responsive to a read command for data stored at the storage device. The storage device may send a notification that indicates the delay, that includes data that indicates a duration of the delay, or both. In response to receiving the notification, an access device may be configured to generate a second read command for redundant associated with data stored at the storage device.

Abstract: Bridge connectors employing flexible planar bodies having signal pathways coupling control devices with biometric sensors are disclosed. Sensors are placed in contact with a patient to detect a health condition and generate an output signal based on the health condition. A control device is linked to the sensors to receive the output signal for collection, analysis, storage, display, and/or subsequent transfer. A bridge connector includes a planar body with predetermined flexibility and signal pathways extending between data ports. By removably coupling the bridge connector to the control device and the sensors secured to the patient, the control device may be physically supported by the patient with minimal discomfort and low-cost biometric sensors may be used. In this manner, sensor replacement costs are reduced and the useful lives of the sensors can be maximized as the designed flexibility of the bridge connector facilitates removable coupling with the biometric sensors.

Abstract: A foldable ladder has multiple ladder segments that fold and unfold relative to each other. Each ladder segment includes one rung element and multiple side rail sections that unfold for deployment to form box-shaped side rails of the ladder. Adjacent ladder segments are connected to each other by hinge joints. The ladder includes locking features at the hinge joints for preventing relative pivoting movement of adjacent ladder segments by more than about 180 degrees.

Abstract: A chambered electric guitar body according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention includes at least five contiguous closed chambers enclosed in the assembled monolithic top and bottom parts comprised of a generally solid material such as a metal. The autonomous dimensions of the chambers, cubic volumes, and thickness as well as the density of the material, allow customization of shape and guitar performance. This is accomplished by using the method provided to produce the monolithic structures using digital technology, CAD and CNC machining to achieve desired specifications.

Abstract: A memory controller detects a request, with a key to a data object and a value, to perform an operation. The memory controller locates the data object by mapping the key to a location of the data object in a tiered data structure and identifies a sequence number of the data object. When the sequence number of the data object is greater than a sequence number of a snapshot of the tiered data structure, the memory controller replaces the data object with a modified data object, including the key and the value, and assigns the modified object a unique sequence number. When the sequence number of the data object is less than the sequence number of the snapshot, the memory controller inserts a new data object, including the key and the value, into the tiered data structure and assigns the new data object the unique sequence number.

Abstract: A software preload arrangement uses a central server to store the software repository(ries) for various computer instruction files offered for preload into a system being manufactured. To execute the preload, a client workstation is used to execute the actual preload steps for a system under test (SUT). When the SUT needs a given piece of the software release, data is moved down to the client from the server and cached there for delivery to the system under test. In accordance with an important characteristic of this invention, the caching is predictive. That is, data is held in or moved to the client workstation based upon recent activity, so that the time needed to prepare a preload for a system under test is shortened.

Abstract: An adjustable surf wake system enhances a wake formed by a watercraft travelling through water. The system may include a flap for deflecting water traveling past the stern of the watercraft, and/or a positioner operably connected to the flap for positioning the flap relative to a longitudinal axis of the watercraft between a neutral position and an outward position. Positioning a port flap in its extended position enhances a starboard surf wake, and positioning the starboard flap in its extended position enhances a port surf wake.

Abstract: A foldable ladder has multiple ladder segments that fold and unfold relative to each other. Each ladder segment includes one rung element and multiple side rail sections that unfold for deployment to form box-shaped side rails of the ladder. Adjacent ladder segments are connected to each other by hinge joints. The ladder includes locking features at the hinge joints for preventing relative pivoting movement of adjacent ladder segments by more than about 180 degrees.

Abstract: A chambered electric guitar body according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention includes at least five contiguous closed chambers enclosed in the assembled monolithic top and bottom parts comprised of a generally solid material such as a metal. The autonomous dimensions of the chambers, cubic volumes, and thickness as well as the density of the material, allow customization of shape and guitar performance. This is accomplished by using the method provided to produce the monolithic structures using digital technology, CAD and CNC machining to achieve desired specifications.

Abstract: A multi-section locking baton includes a manually actuatable release rod extending axially through outer, middle and inner tubes for unlocking first and second cam joints between the tubes. The release rod includes a tip having three sections, including an outermost or distal section that increases in diameter as measured in a direction moving away from the distal end of the tip; an intermediate section that is the widest section of the tip and that has a plurality of relief openings formed in as outer surface; and a proximal section that tapers from the intermediate section to a narrower diameter at the proximal tip end where it is secured onto the release rod. A portion of the release rod tip is located in one of the cams when the baton is in the extended condition. The baton also includes bushings on the inner diameters of the outer and middle tubes, and wear rings on the outer diameters of the middle and inner tubes.

Abstract: A Sharing Data Fabric (SDF) causes flash memory attached to multiple compute nodes to appear to be a single large memory space that is global yet shared by many applications running on the many compute nodes. Flash objects stored in flash memory of a home node are copied to an object cache in DRAM at an action node by SDF threads executing on the nodes. The home node has a flash object map locating flash objects in the home node's flash memory, and a global cache directory that locates copies of the object in other sharing nodes. Application programs use an applications-programming interface (API) into the SDF to transparently get and put objects without regard to the object's location on any of the many compute nodes. SDF threads and tables control coherency of objects in flash and DRAM.

Abstract: A distributed database system has multiple compute nodes each running an instance of a database management system (DBMS) program that accesses database records in a local buffer cache. Records are persistently stored in distributed flash memory on multiple storage nodes. A Sharing Data Fabric (SDF) is a middleware layer between the DBMS programs and the storage nodes and has API functions called by the DBMS programs when a requested record is not present in the local buffer cache. The SDF fetches the requested record from flash memory and loads a copy into the local buffer cache. The SDF has threads on a home storage node that locate database records using a node map. A global cache directory locks and pins records to local buffer caches for updating by a node's DBMS program. DBMS operations are grouped into transactions that are committed or aborted together as a unit.

Abstract: Crime investigation systems and methods including an investigation tool for receiving and storing DNA information, attaching related case information, disconnecting identification information, matching the information against stored information, and generating and communicating reports of match results, and an interface in communication with the crime investigation tool for entering the related case information, updating the information, and receiving the reports. The systems and methods further provide evidence chain of custody tracking and real time entry and updating from the field.

Abstract: A literature on demand (LOD) distribution system comprises a secure server hosting a LOD database and a vendor's electronic data processing device on which a LOD application is loaded. The vendor's electronic data processing device is configured to execute the LOD application to perform operations including: storing a local LOD database containing a portion or all of the LOD items stored in the LOD database at the secure server; selecting an LOD item stored in the local LOD database; displaying the selected LOD item or causing the selected LOD item to be displayed by a viewer application executing on the electronic data processing device; constructing an email including a hyperlink for downloading or streaming the selected LOD item from the LOD database of the secure server; and sending the constructed email to a recipient or causing the constructed email to be sent to the recipient by an email application executing on the electronic data processing device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various deflectable catheter systems that utilize materials having negative coefficients of thermal expansion to cause the catheter to deflect. A representative embodiment of the present invention includes a catheter having a heat-sensitive control member located outside the distal end of the catheter, but which is in mechanical communication with the distal end of the catheter such that heat may be applied to the control member to cause the distal portion to deflect. The applied heat, however, does not introduce any significant heat into the distal end of the catheter. The system may also include a processor to estimate an amount by which the catheter has been deflected based in part on temperature information of the control member, or even resistance measurements for the control member. The system may also include calibration systems and methods.