def get_docs_to_commit(self):
        try:
            spec = {'synced': False}
            fields = {'_id': 0}
            cur = self.db.docs.find(spec, fields)
        except Exception as e:
            raise DatabaseException(e)
        return list(cur)
def i1beta_up(i1, beta, up, ax=0):
    """creates a surface plot of up vs i1, beta"""
    if ax == 0:
        _create_3d_axis()
        ax = plt.gca()
    _plot_surface(ax, i1, beta, up,
                  (u'I1/A', u'Beta/°', u'Up/V'),
                  azim=60)