Abstract: Embodiments are directed to tiered data store with persistent layers. A write tier in the file system for storing in a file system. A value for a performance metric that corresponds to write requests to the file system may be predicted based on characteristics of the write requests such that the performance metric may be determined based on a plurality of interactions with the write tier. The predicted value that exceeds a threshold value of the performance metric may be employed to cause performance of further actions, including: queuing a portion of the write requests in a memory buffer based on the predicted value and the threshold value; combining the queued portion of the write requests into s; storing the data segments in the write tier such that a measured value of the performance metric may be less than the threshold value.

Abstract: A method for raising funds using a participant vote based program via a communications network comprising: a) providing an online program that participants joins; b) providing a program fund where money is added to the fund based on at least one of the following ways: fees paid by participants in the program, fees paid by business related to consumer purchases, fees paid from advertising or related revenue from the program, fees paid by business partners related to participant purchases, contributions from business partners or participants, and contributions from individuals or organizations; c) providing a submission process for a submitter, who request funding; d) providing a voting process where the participant can vote on the submission, and participant can earn and use bonus votes; e) providing a disbursement process where the money is disbursed from the program fund based at least partially on the results of the vote.

Abstract: A device for storing and managing an electronic medical reference library, comprising an electronic medical reference, designated by title, displayed for electronic selection; a list of individual diagnoses, to be displayed for electronic selection after electronic selection of the electronic reference; a navigation bar, displayed after electronic selection of an individual diagnosis, having representative buttons located thereon for electronic selection; a list of key facts, related to a selected individual diagnosis, having a representative button on the navigation bar, displayed after an individual diagnosis is electronically selected or after having its representative button selected on the navigation bar; and an image, illustrating a representative view of an individually selected diagnosis, having a representative button on the navigation bar, displayed after having its representative button selected on the navigation bar.