Abstract: An apparatus includes a heating element and a temperature sensor both integrated within an enclosure. The heating element is disposed at one end of the enclosure and the temperature sensor is disposed at an opposite end of the enclosure. The enclosure has an enclosure length (EL) and the heating element has a heating element length (HEL), a heating element width (HEW), and a heating element thickness (HET). In one example, the enclosure is long and tubular, and the heating element is flat and rectangular with dimensions that promote portability and ease of use (for example, HEL<EL/3, HEW<HEL/2, and HET<HEW/5). During operation, the temperature sensor detects when a surface reaches a desired temperature. The heating element is activated and is used to partially heat and transfer material to the surface. The heating element causes the material to become more malleable for transport without vaporizing material.

Abstract: A smoking device includes a handle and a smoking device control interface. All inputs of the smoking device control interface are disposed above the handle or along a finger contact surface of the handle thereby providing single handed operating functionality. An operator is able to control various operating characteristics during operation with the same hand that grips the smoking device without having to readjust their grip or adjust the smoking device. All outputs of the control interface are visible during use. This provides ease of use and permits the operator to perform other functions with their free hand. No inputs or outputs of the smoking device control interface are disposed between contact surfaces of the handle. At least part of the smoking device control interface is disposed above the handle. The inputs or outputs of the smoking device control interface are within two-thirds of a height of the handle.

Abstract: A vaporizing device includes a heating adapter connector, a mouthpiece, a housing, and a handle. The housing is disposed between the heating adapter connector and the mouthpiece. The handle is attached to the housing and extends away from the housing. The handle provides dedicated hand support for ease of operation. An airflow path extends from an inlet of the heating adapter connector, through the housing, and out of a mouthpiece outlet of the mouthpiece. No airflow path between the inlet and outlet extends through the handle. In one example, the mouthpiece includes a percolator causing airflow to change direction at least once. During operation, a user grasps the vaporizing device using the handle and attaches a heating tip to the heating adapter connector. Next, the user activates the heating tip, vaporizes smoking material, and inhales smoke/vapor through the heating adapter connector, through the housing, and out of the mouthpiece.

Abstract: A modular smoking device includes a housing and a mouthpiece attachment. The housing includes a heating element and an outlet. Sides of the housing are non-linear allowing a user to more easily grasp the housing during use. In one example, the housing has a spherical shape and the mouthpiece attachment has a conical shape. The mouthpiece attachment has an inlet and an outlet. The mouthpiece attachment is attachable and detachable from the housing. When connected, an airflow path extends from the outlet of the housing, through the inlet of the mouthpiece attachment, and out of the outlet of the mouthpiece attachment. During operation, a user deposits heating material within the housing and activates the heating element causing smoking material within the housing to vaporize. The user draws smoke or vapor from housing via the mouthpiece attachment. The mouthpiece attachment includes a liquid cavity and an optional air flow control surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides drug delivery compositions that allow for immediate and/or sustained release of a therapeutic agent contained within the system. The present invention also provides drug delivery compositions that preserve the stability of the therapeutic agent contained within during the sustained release. The present invention further provides a method of treating, ameliorating, or preventing an inflammation-related disease or disorder in a subject using the compositions of the invention.

Abstract: A data storage method is used to improve storage consistency of a distributed storage system. The method includes: a primary storage node performs EC coding on a to-be-stored data segment to obtain a target EC stripe; determines in a storage node group to which the primary storage node belongs, m+k target storage nodes used to store m+k target EC blocks of the target EC stripe; sends a preparation message to the target storage nodes; receives a response message sent by a target storage node; and sends an execution message to the target storage nodes to instruct the target storage nodes to write target EC blocks that are in preparation logs.

Abstract: A data storage method is used to improve storage consistency of a distributed storage system. The method includes: a primary storage node performs EC coding on a to-be-stored data segment to obtain a target EC stripe; determines in a storage node group to which the primary storage node belongs, m+k target storage nodes used to store m+k target EC blocks of the target EC stripe; sends a preparation message to the target storage nodes; receives a response message sent by a target storage node; and sends an execution message to the target storage nodes to instruct the target storage nodes to write target EC blocks that are in preparation logs.

Abstract: A data recovery method to improve storage consistency of a distributed storage system includes: receiving a recovery message from a storage node after a fault recovery of the faulty storage node; obtaining N lost erasure coding (EC) blocks of the faulty storage node through computation according to EC blocks stored by non-faulty storage nodes; sequentially sending N lost EC blocks to the faulty storage node for storage. In the process of sequentially sending the N lost EC blocks to the faulty storage node, when it is determined that for a first EC block that is to be stored by the faulty storage node, a second EC block having a same key value as the first EC block exists in the lost EC blocks, after the faulty storage node stores the second EC block, the first EC block is sent to the faulty storage node to store.

Abstract: A data recovery method to improve storage consistency of a distributed storage system includes: receiving a recovery message from a storage node after a fault recovery of the faulty storage node; obtaining N lost erasure coding (EC) blocks of the faulty storage node through computation according to EC blocks stored by non-faulty storage nodes; sequentially sending N lost EC blocks to the faulty storage node for storage. In the process of sequentially sending the N lost EC blocks to the faulty storage node, when it is determined that for a first EC block that is to be stored by the faulty storage node, a second EC block having a same key value as the first EC block exists in the lost EC blocks, after the faulty storage node stores the second EC block, the first EC block is sent to the faulty storage node to store.

Abstract: A data storage method is used to improve storage consistency of a distributed storage system. The method includes: a primary storage node performs EC coding on a to-be-stored data segment to obtain a target EC stripe; determines in a storage node group to which the primary storage node belongs, m+k target storage nodes used to store m+k target EC blocks of the target EC stripe; sends a preparation message to the target storage nodes; receives a response message sent by a target storage node; and sends an execution message to the target storage nodes to instruct the target storage nodes to write target EC blocks that are in preparation logs.

Abstract: A data distribution method for improving performance of a distributed storage system includes: receiving, by a data distribution apparatus, a storage instruction of a user, dividing to-be-stored data that the storage instruction instructs to store, into P data segments, determining a storage node group corresponding to each data segment, and finally distributing the data segment to a primary node in the corresponding storage node group.

Abstract: A data storage method is used to improve storage consistency of a distributed storage system. The method includes: a primary storage node performs EC coding on a to-be-stored data segment to obtain a target EC stripe; determines in a storage node group to which the primary storage node belongs, m+k target storage nodes used to store m+k target EC blocks of the target EC stripe; sends a preparation message to the target storage nodes; receives a response message sent by a target storage node; and sends an execution message to the target storage nodes to instruct the target storage nodes to write target EC blocks that are in preparation logs.

Abstract: The present invention provides drug delivery compositions that allow for immediate and/or sustained release of a therapeutic agent contained within the system. The present invention also provides drug delivery compositions that preserve the stability of the therapeutic agent contained within during the sustained release. The present invention further provides a method of treating, ameliorating, or preventing an inflammation-related disease or disorder in a subject using the compositions of the invention.