Abstract: A geographically distributed system using a hybrid, multi-master design is disclosed. The system may use global tables, for which both reads and writes may be performed locally, but with a single region serving as a master region. All strongly consistent reads and writes may be sent to the master region, whereas eventually consistent reads and writes may be performed in any region with a replica. The master region may not be statically assigned but may move from region to region. The master region may be assigned manually by client preference or may be assigned and updated automatically based on the time of day or workload characteristics.

Abstract: A data storage service implements encoding techniques for generating compound partition keys, compound clustering keys, or a combination for more flexibility in storing data in a key-value database system. In some aspects a request to store data with multiple partition keys and/or multiple clustering keys may be received. Length information may be added to the partition keys, and the results concatenated together to form a compound partition key used to store the data in the database. Ordering information may be added to the clustering keys, and the results concatenated together to form a compound clustering key, to be used in storing and sorting data in the database. In some cases, the clustering keys may be made a uniform length, such as by padding keys, as necessary, to have a length that is a multiple of an arbitrary number, and then dividing the clustering keys into chunks of that arbitrary number.

Abstract: A movable ballast system for an aircraft includes first and second ballast docks secured to the aircraft. The first ballast dock includes a first housing and a first ballast tray secured within the first housing. The first ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The second ballast dock is positioned aft of a CG of the aircraft and includes a second housing and a second ballast tray secured within the second housing. The second ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The movable ballast system includes a plurality of movable ballasts, each movable ballast of the plurality of movable ballasts being configured to fit within at least one channel of each of the plurality of channels of the first and second ballast trays.

Abstract: An example method of setting a plurality of valves into a predetermined configuration for use in a wellbore servicing operation includes presenting a schematic display of the plurality of valves with a visual indication of the current state of each valve. The method also includes displaying a list of predefined valve configurations. The method further includes overlaying on the schematic display a predefined valve configuration selected from the list and visually indicating on the overlay the state of each valve if the predefined valve configuration is implemented.

Abstract: A movable ballast system for an aircraft includes first and second ballast docks secured to the aircraft. The first ballast dock includes a first housing and a first ballast tray secured within the first housing. The first ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The second ballast dock is positioned aft of a CG of the aircraft and includes a second housing and a second ballast tray secured within the second housing. The second ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The movable ballast system includes a plurality of movable ballasts, each movable ballast of the plurality of movable ballasts being configured to fit within at least one channel of each of the plurality of channels of the first and second ballast trays.

Abstract: A movable ballast system for an aircraft includes first and second ballast docks secured to the aircraft. The first ballast dock includes a first housing and a first ballast tray and a first stop plate secured within the first housing. The first ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The second ballast dock is positioned aft of a CG of the aircraft and includes a second housing and a second ballast tray and a second stop plate secured within the second housing. The second ballast tray includes a plurality of channels. The movable ballast system includes a plurality of movable ballasts, each movable ballast of the plurality of movable ballasts being configured to fit within at least one channel of each of the plurality of channels of the first and second ballast trays.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a center of gravity (CG) of an aircraft includes: inputting at least one load parameter into a flight computer, determining, via a processer of the flight computer, the CG of the aircraft. Responsive to a determination by the processor that the CG is outside of a CG envelope, moving at least a first movable ballast of a plurality of movable ballasts from a first ballast dock to a second ballast dock to move the CG toward the CG envelope. Each of the first and second ballast docks may include a housing and a first ballast tray secured within the housing and comprising a plurality of channels.

Abstract: To leverage the attributes of object storage for applications/systems created to interface with a network files system, an object storage backed file system can accept the defined file system commands from the applications/systems and transform the file system commands into requests that target object storage. The file system is “backed” by object storage because attributes and content of file system entities are stored in objects. For instance, content data and metadata of a file are stored in objects in object storage. This object storage backed file system can be considered a bridge between a client perceived hierarchical file system namespace and a flat namespace of an object storage.

Abstract: A steering system includes a first wheel and a second wheel spaced apart from the first wheel, a first tie rod, a second tie rod, and an electrical actuator. The first wheel is rotatably coupled to a first knuckle, and the first knuckle is pivotable about a first suspension post. The second wheel is rotatably coupled to a second knuckle, and the second knuckle is pivotable about a second suspension post spaced apart from the first suspension post. The first tie rod is coupled to the first knuckle and to a mechanical linkage. The second tie rod is coupled to the second knuckle and the mechanical linkage. The electrical actuator is coupled to the mechanical linkage so that movement of the electrical actuator translates the mechanical linkage axially, which adjusts the orientation of the wheels relative to the suspension posts.

Abstract: A fully-electric scissor lift comprises a base, a retractable lift mechanism, a work platform, a linear actuator, and a battery. The base has a plurality of wheels. The retractable lift mechanism has a first end coupled to the base and is moveable between an extended position and a retracted position. The work platform is configured to support a load. The work platform is coupled to and supported by a second end of the retractable lift mechanism. The linear actuator is configured to selectively move the retractable lift mechanism between the extended position and the retracted position. The linear actuator has an electric lift motor. The battery is configured to apply power to the electric lift motor. The fully-electric scissor lift is completely devoid of moving fluids.

Abstract: Systems and methods for growing vegetation are provided. The disclosed systems (100) and methods (1100, 1200) use rotating growth mats (102) and a cutting device (112). The rotating growth mats and cutting device can be coupled to an anaerobic digester (402) to generated methane gas using vegetation grown on the growth mats. The systems and methods may further use C artificial light sources (108) and a nutrients delivery system (110) to assist growth.

Abstract: A combination of memory units and dataflow processing units is disclosed for computation. A first memory unit is interposed between a first dataflow processing unit and a second dataflow processing unit. Operations for a dataflow graph are allocated across the first dataflow processing unit and the second dataflow processing unit. The first memory unit passes data between the first dataflow processing unit and the second dataflow processing unit to execute the dataflow graph. The first memory unit is a high bandwidth, shared memory device including a hybrid memory cube. The first dataflow processing unit and second dataflow processing unit include a plurality of circular buffers containing instructions for controlling data transfer between the first dataflow processing unit and second dataflow processing unit. Additional dataflow processing units and additional memory units are included for additional functionality and efficiency.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and materials for increasing at least one of root biomass and above-ground biomass and in a Poaceae plant by expressing a PEAPOD protein, or fragment thereof, in the Poaceae plant. The invention also provides methods and materials producing a Poaceae plant with at least one of increased root biomass and increased above-ground biomass, by expressing a PEAPOD protein, or fragment thereof, in the Poaceae plant.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and materials for increasing root biomass in a plant, by increasing the expression of at least one PEAPOD protein, or fragment thereof, in the plant. The invention also provides methods and materials for producing a plant increased root biomass, the method comprising the step of increasing the expression of at least one PEAPOD protein, or fragment thereof, in the plant.

Abstract: A vial hopper and feeder assembly is used in conjunction with automated prescription filling devices and systems, wherein the vial hopper and feeder assembly is configured to allow an operator to dump a large number of vials into a hopper in a random orientation, and the hopper/feeder assembly has the capability of selecting individual vials, orienting them in the proper direction, and delivering them individually in assembly line fashion, and in proper orientation, to the next step of the prescription filling process. A rotatable singulator receives the vials, feeds each vial individually to a pocket within a rotating turnstile. Sensors detect the presence and orientation of the vial, upright or upside down, and the turnstile rotates either clockwise or counterclockwise, based on the orientation of the vial within the pocket, to release each vial in one single direction.

Abstract: A vial hopper and feeder assembly is used in conjunction with automated prescription filling devices and systems, wherein the vial hopper and feeder assembly is configured to allow an operator to dump a large number of vials into a hopper in a random orientation, and the hopper/feeder assembly has the capability of selecting individual vials, orienting them in the proper direction, and delivering them individually in assembly line fashion, and in proper orientation, to the next step of the prescription filling process. A rotatable singulator receives the vials, feeds each vial individually to a pocket within a rotating turnstile. Sensors detect the presence and orientation of the vial, upright or upside down, and the turnstile rotates either clockwise or counterclockwise, based on the orientation of the vial within the pocket, to release each vial in one single direction.

Abstract: A geographically distributed system using a hybrid, multi-master design is disclosed. The system may use global tables, for which both reads and writes may be performed locally, but with a single region serving as a master region. All strongly consistent reads and writes may be sent to the master region, whereas eventually consistent reads and writes may be performed in any region with a replica. The master region may not be statically assigned but may move from region to region. The master region may be assigned manually by client preference or may be assigned and updated automatically based on the time of day or workload characteristics.

Abstract: A method of servicing a request during high pressure wellsite pumping operations to manipulate a valve in a manifold system having a plurality of valves includes receiving a plurality of valve configurations that would result in an overpressured manifold system and comparing the request to a proposed valve configuration that would result from a proposed valve manipulation. The method includes determining whether a pump to the manifold system is operating. The method further includes determining whether the proposed valve manipulation inhibits a flow path between the pump and an outlet of the manifold system and would result in an overpressured manifold system. The method also includes in response to a determination that the proposed valve manipulation inhibits the flow path: blocking the proposed valve manipulation and presenting an operator with an override option.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for multithreaded data flow processing within a reconfigurable fabric. Code is obtained for performing data manipulation within a reconfigurable fabric. The code is segmented into a plurality of data manipulation operations. A first segment from the segmenting is allocated to a first set of processing elements within a plurality of processing elements comprising a reconfigurable fabric. A second segment from the segmenting is allocated to a second set of processing elements within the reconfigurable fabric. The first segment is executed on the first set of processing elements while the second segment is executed on the second set of processing elements. The first kernel and the second kernel comprise multithreaded operation.

Abstract: FIG. 7 shows an air cannon system loaded with a launch canister containing a prop-fouler. A pressure vessel (28) contains an inlet including a poppet valve (100) that, upon command, can be selectively placed in either a one-way flow position to permit charging of the pressure vessel or otherwise opened to trigger rapid discharge through pressure equalization with the ambient environment. The air cannon may include multiple splayed barrels or a single barrel (158). A launch canister (202), realized in the form of a tube, has a driving plate (350) that closes an end of the launch tube. The driving plate is the first point loaded into the barrel. Within the launch canister (202) a first portion of a floating prop-fouling line is stored. The prop-fouling line, such as made from Dyneema®, has at its ends two drogues that, upon entry into the water, fill with water to produce drag resistance to movement of the prop-fouling line.