Abstract: According to some aspects, a database system comprising a processor configured to execute a plurality of system components is provided. The plurality of system components may include an interface component configured to receive a write commit command and provide a write commit confirmation, a snapshot component configured to generate a plurality of snapshots of data stored in a data storage node of a plurality of data storage nodes and identify a committed snapshot representative of data that has been replicated on a majority of the plurality of data storage nodes, and a command processing component configured to modify a data element based on the write commit command, determine whether the majority of the plurality of storage nodes have replicated the modification using the committed snapshot, and generate the write commit confirmation responsive to a determination that the majority of the plurality of data storage nodes have replicated the modification.

Abstract: According to some aspects, a database system is provided. The database system may include at least one processor configured to execute a plurality of system components. The plurality of system components may include an interface component configured to receive a read commit command and provide a result, a snapshot component configured to generate a plurality of snapshots of data stored in a first data storage node of a plurality of data storage nodes and identify a committed snapshot representative of data that has been replicated on a majority of the plurality of data storage nodes, and a command processing component configured to read the committed snapshot responsive to receipt of the read commit command and generate the result.

Abstract: Prenatal genetic testing allows early detection of genetic disease in a fetus. Described herein are methods of detecting the presence or absence of a genetic variant in a region of interest in the genome of a fetus in a pregnant woman. The methods are noninvasive, and can use cell-free DNA (cfDNA) present in the plasma of the pregnant woman. A DNA library is constructed from the cfDNA, and DNA molecules comprising the region of interest or portions thereof are enriched and analyzed, for example by sequencing. The methods described herein can also rely on constructing a maternal haplotype to provide even higher resolution fetal genetic variant determination.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a biological sample processing system and methods for processing biological samples. The processing may include one or both of removing wax from wax-embedded biological samples and applying a reagent to biological samples. Aspects of the dewaxing technique and the technique for applying the reagent may be combined to achieve energy efficiencies. Additional efficiency may be achieved by recirculating heated reagent. A hybrid power system may use a source of stored power to supplement external power at times of peak demand. Uniform distribution of liquids across a surface of the biological samples may be achieved by self-leveling using an inclinometer.

Abstract: Provided is a system and method for a multi-tenant datacenter with nested hypervisors. This is provided by at least two physical computing systems each having at least one processor and memory store adapted to provide a first level Hypervisors, each providing a First Virtual Computing Environment with a plurality of inactive Virtual Hypervisors nested therein. The multi tenant data center is structured and arranged to activate a Virtual Hypervisor on one of the at least two Hypervisors and automatically migrate the at least one Customer VM from a Customer Hypervisor to the Active Virtual Hypervisor; and evacuate the remaining inactive Virtual Hypervisors from the Hypervisor supporting the Active Hypervisor to another of the at least two Hypervisors supporting inactive Virtual Hypervisors.

Abstract: According to one aspect, systems and processes for assaying a plurality of nucleic acid samples are provided. In an exemplary process, a matrix is generated including pools and samples using a pooling scheme with decoding capability equal to a number D. Matrix organization includes assigning one pool in a set of pools per row by one sample in a set of samples per column. Sample assignment creates a known pattern of pools, wherein each sample in the set of pools is assigned a total number of D+1 times and any two pools have at most one sample in common. Samples are pooled based on a pooling scheme, where pooled samples are assayed. Positive pools are determined and one or more positive samples are identified. The matrix is displayed as a visual pattern representing the known pattern of pools, the identified positive samples, and the determined positive pools.

Abstract: A lead-free piezoelectric ceramic material has the general chemical formula xBiCoO3-y(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-z(Bi0.5K0.5)TiO3, xBiCoO3-y(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-zNaN-bO3, xBiCoO3-y(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-zKNbO3, xBiCoO3-yBi(Mg0.5Ti0.5)O3-z(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3, xBiCoO3-yBa-TiO3-z(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3, or xBiCoO3-yNaNbO3-zKNbO3; wherein x+y+z=1, and x, y, z?0.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for detecting unique genetic signatures derived from markers such as, for example, mutations, somatic or germ-line, in nucleic acids obtained from biological samples. The sensitivity of the methods provides for detection of mutations associated with a disease, e.g., cancer mutations, or with inherited disease, e.g., an autosomal recessive disease, in a noninvasive manner at ultra-low proportions of sequences carrying mutations to sequences carrying normal, e.g., non-cancer sequences, or a reference sequence, e.g., a human reference genome.

Abstract: A system and method for determining consensus within a distributed database are provided. According to one aspect, a protocol is provided that reduces or eliminates heartbeat communication between nodes of a replica set. Nodes may communicate liveness information using existing database commands and metadata associated with the database commands. According to another aspect, improved systems and methods are provided for detection of node failures and election of a new primary node.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of controlling a multi-stage compressor of a gas turbine engine having a front-block of stages with variable stator vanes (VSVs), a rear block of stages downstream of the front-block, and a bleed air off-take from at least one of the stages. The method includes sensing the pressure of the bleed air from the bleed air off-take and adjusting the position of the VSV for the front-block.

Abstract: A system and method for determining consensus within a distributed database are provided. According to one aspect, a protocol is provided that reduces or eliminates heartbeat communication between nodes of a replica set. Nodes may communicate liveness information using existing database commands and metadata associated with the database commands. According to another aspect, improved systems and methods are provided for detection of node failures and election of a new primary node.

Abstract: A child support device including a collapsible frame and removable seat. The collapsible frame includes a lower frame for rocking atop a support surface and an upper frame for supporting the removable seat. Lower and upper frame ends are connected to a folding mechanism such that manipulation of one of the lower or upper frames causes a generally synchronized movement of the other of the lower or upper frames. In example embodiments, movement of the lower frame from the expanded configuration to the collapsed configuration similarly causes the upper frame to move from the expanded configuration to the collapsed configuration.

Abstract: A method is described to allow a device to retrieve a message, that is separated into a plurality of fragments, from a data source, wherein the method involves: establishing a first network connection with the data source; receiving a subset of the plurality of fragments; determining the first network connection has ended before completion of said message; establishing one or more subsequent network connections with the data source; and receiving any of the plurality of fragments not within the subset. The characteristics (for example: application protocol, security, speed, reach, bandwidth capability, cost of usage, network type, physical layer type, data-link layer type, or IP address of one or both of the first and second devices) of the first network connection can be potentially different than the subsequent network connections.

Abstract: An airfoil for a compressor blade of a gas turbine engine has a chord between a leading edge and a trailing edge and a span between a root and a tip. The airfoil can further include a reduction in local chord from about 75% span to the tip for about a 5% reduction in local solidity. The airfoil can have decreasing sweep angles for the leading edge and the trailing edge from 50% span to the tip and can have decreasing leading and trailing edge dihedral angles from 50% span to the tip.

Abstract: A valve (20) is provided that selectively controls flows of fluid through a valve opening (50). The valve (20) includes an elastically resilient valve member (54) that is seated in a member pocket (52) with a valve flap (76) that covers the valve opening (50). The valve flap (76) substantially prevents flows of fluid in one direction through the valve opening (50), but permits flows of fluid in the other direction.

Abstract: Image-guided therapy of a tissue can utilize magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or another medical imaging device to guide an instrument within the tissue. A workstation can actuate movement of the instrument, and can actuate energy emission and/or cooling of the instrument to effect treatment to the tissue. The workstation and/or an operator of the workstation can be located outside a vicinity of an MRI device or other medical imaging device, and drive means for positioning the instrument can be located within the vicinity of the MRI device or the other medical imaging device. The instrument can be an MRI compatible laser or high-intensity focused ultrasound probe that provides thermal therapy to, e.g., a tissue in a brain of a patient.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a medical instrument (for example, an ablation device) comprises an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, an energy delivery member positioned at the distal end of the elongate body, a first plurality of temperature-measurement devices carried by or positioned within the energy delivery member, the first plurality of temperature-measurement devices being thermally insulated from the energy delivery member, and a second plurality of temperature-measurement devices positioned proximal to a proximal end of the energy delivery member, the second plurality of temperature-measurement devices being thermally insulated from the energy delivery member.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes accessing one or more content objects associated with a first user of an online social network; generating a set of tag candidates by extracting one or more n-grams from the content objects, wherein each tag candidate comprises one or more text strings or ideograms from the extracted n-grams; calculating, for each tag candidate of the set of tag candidates, a quality-score for the tag candidate based on an affinity coefficient between the first user and a respective content object from which the n-grams or ideograms comprising the tag candidate were extracted; and sending, to a client system for display, one or more of the tag candidates as suggested tags for the first user, wherein each suggested tag has a quality-score greater than a threshold quality-score.

Abstract: We describe a method of storing a gas, in particular hydrogen, comprising: providing a polymer sponge, wherein said polymer sponge comprises a plurality of catalytic nanoparticles; providing a solution of reactants, catalysed by said nanoparticles to produce said gas; absorbing said solution into said polymer sponge such that said reactants react within said polymer sponge to produce said gas; wherein said gas is held within said polymer sponge; and wherein said polymer sponge comprises a thermally responsive polymer having a volume which reduces with a change in temperature, such that said gas held within said polymer is extractable by changing a temperature of said polymer sponge.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a medical instrument (for example, an ablation device) comprises an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, an energy delivery member positioned at the distal end of the elongate body, a first plurality of temperature-measurement devices carried by or positioned within the energy delivery member, the first plurality of temperature-measurement devices being thermally insulated from the energy delivery member, and a second plurality of temperature-measurement devices positioned proximal to a proximal end of the energy delivery member, the second plurality of temperature-measurement devices being thermally insulated from the energy delivery member.