code: function strToFlags(str) {
  	if (!str) {
  		return;
  	}
  
  	var buff = new Buffer([0, 0, 0, 0]);
  	buff.write(str, 0, 4, 'ascii');
  	return buff.readUInt32BE(0);
  }
docs: Turns a max 4 char string into a uint32.
  The node.js Buffer class provides a good uint32 conversion algorithm that we want to use.
  
  @param {string} str
  @returns {number}