Abstract: A Thorium fuel rod assembly is disclosed that includes first and second support elements and a number of Thorium fuel rods positioned between support elements. Each of the Thorium fuel rod includes an outer fuel element containing a solid Thorium an inner core element containing Beryllium that is positioned within an interior cavity defined by the outer fuel element. In an exemplary disclosure, the inner core element also defines an inner cavity such that a beam of high energy particles may be directed into the inner cavity of the inner core element to impinge upon a Beryllium nucleus within the inner core element to produce a (p, n) reaction resulting in the emission of a neutron, where the emitted neutron may interact with a Thorium nucleus in the outer fuel element to cause the Thorium nucleus to fission.

Abstract: Computing devices for authoring content in computer-based 3D environments are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a computing device is configured to provide, on a display, a user interface of a 3D authoring application having a 3D working area with a predefined shape and size. The computing device is also configured to, in response to receiving a user input selecting a 3D component, retrieve one or more files of the 3D component containing data that is pre-processed according to the predefined shape and size of the 3D working area. Based on the retrieved data of the 3D component, the computing device can produce (i) a graphical representation of one or more objects or (ii) a sound in the 3D working area without modifying, outside of the 3D authoring application, underlying data of the one or more objects or sound.

Abstract: An augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) system employs a tracking system for tracking one or more components of the AR/VR system using a generated electromagnetic (EM) field. The tracking system employs an EM coil for generating the EM field or, alternatively, sensing the EM field. The EM coil includes a core substrate and thin metal foil wrapped around the core substrate in three orthogonal axes. The EM coil is effectively “hollow” in that it weighs less than a conventional solid ferrite or ferrous core of comparable dimensions, either through the use of one or more openings formed in the core substrate, the use of a material less dense than ferrite or ferrous materials, the formation of the core substrate as a hollow framework, or a combination thereof. The resulting EM coil thus weighs less than conventional solid-core EM coils, thereby reducing user fatigue and the possibility of misalignment of the EM coil as a result from a drop impact of the device implementing the EM coil.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a heat dissipating structure, an array frame positioned against the heat dissipating structure, and a battery cell retained by the array frame and arranged so at least one surface of the battery cell is exposed by the array frame and is contiguous with the heat dissipating structure. The heat dissipating structure may be a heat exchanger plate or a thermal interface material (TIM).

Abstract: A ligature-resistant paper towel dispenser includes a rear portion with a towel recess for receiving a roll of paper towels and a planar mounting area for securing the paper towel dispenser to a wall. A front portion of the dispenser locks to the rear portion, covers the roll and completes the shape of the paper towel dispenser exterior. The mounting area of the housing may extend backwards from the planar mounting area into an aperture formed through a surface of the wall so that the towel recess projects into the wall. The housing has an upward projecting exterior that is curved or inclined downward from an apex to prevent attachment of a ligature and extends above the towel recess by a distance greater than or equal to half of a maximum forward projection of the housing to provide sufficient curvature or inclination of the exterior of the top projection.

Abstract: Methods for the use of zinc ammonium carbonate as a scavenger of sulfur-containing species encountered in oilfield operations are provided. In one embodiment, the methods include introducing a sulfide scavenging additive including zinc ammonium carbonate into at least a portion of a conduit through which a potential sulfur-containing fluid is flowing.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a muzzleloader barrel having at least one seat pin, and a muzzleloader system that includes a muzzleloader barrel having at least one seat pin and an ignition device, wherein the muzzleloader barrel and muzzleloader system are configured to operate without a breech plug.

Abstract: In implementations of device component exposure protection, a computing device includes device components enclosed within a housing. The device components are assembled within the housing and enclosed within the housing upon completion of assembly of the computing device. The computing device further includes a protective material contained within the housing, which fills void spaces around the device components. The protective material prevents exposure of the device components to external matter that the computing device is exposed to upon completion of the assembly.

Abstract: An imaging system may include an array of pixels that each generates pixel data and a pixel data compression system. The pixel data compression system may include pixel data to variable-precision floating-point conversion circuitry, discrete wavelet transform circuitry, encoding circuitry, and serialization circuitry. The pixel data to variable-precision floating-point conversion circuitry may generate bits associated with a floating-point representation of the pixel data. The bits associated with the floating-point representation may include a sign component, an exponent component, and a mantissa component. The exponent component may be offset by a value to generate the floating-point value associated with the pixel data.

Abstract: A multi-part roofing underlayment having independent release liners, where the underlayment comprises separable portions attached adjacent top edges of the separable portions, creating an interface therebetween into which roofing components may be inserted, easing installation and better mitigating wind-driven rain and ice dam related roof failures. Embodiments provide the multi-part roofing underlayment in sheet and roll forms and with various configurations of release liners, adhesive layers, granular layers, selvedge edges, and plastic layers.

Abstract: A graphical user interface and a range slider are provided. Each of a first and second slider thumb is positioned at a respective location along a slider track, and associated with a corresponding value along the slider track. User interaction is detected and identified to include at least one of a tap or a drag. A hardware processor responds to the user interaction by processing a value representing the tap or the drag to determine a location along the slider track of the user interaction. The processor identifies the interaction as being with one of the first and second slider thumbs, and repositions the identified one slider thumb to the determined location along the slider track. In addition, a graphical selection overlay is on the selected slider thumb, and by determining a slider track value associated with the repositioned location of the selected one slider thumb along the slider track.

Abstract: A system and method to provide notification of a controller fault in a multi-controller system using a message authentication code (MAC) involve receiving, at a security peripheral, a fault notification from a monitor of a first controller of the multi-controller system indicating that the first controller is faulty. The method also includes receiving, at the security peripheral, a key index from the first, and providing, from the security peripheral, a faulty MAC to the first controller based on the fault notification. The faulty MAC is different than the first correct MAC indicated by the key index from the first controller. A second controller among the controllers of multi-controller system receives a message from the first controller that includes the faulty MAC. The second controller determines that the message from the first controller cannot be trusted based on the faulty MAC not matching the first correct MAC.

Abstract: A dimmable ballast circuit for a compact fluorescent lamp controls the intensity of a lamp tube in response to a phase-control voltage received from a dimmer switch. The ballast circuit comprises a phase-control-to-DC converter circuit that receives the phase-control voltage, which is characterized by a duty cycle defining a target intensity of the lamp tube, and generates a DC voltage representative of the duty cycle of the phase-control voltage. Changes in the duty cycle of the phase-control voltage that are below a threshold amount are filtered out by the converter circuit, while intentional changes in the duty cycle of the phase-control voltage are reflected in changes in the target intensity level and thereby the intensity level of the lamp tube.

Abstract: A polymeric blend composition comprising: (a) from about 1 to about 99 wt. % of a polymer; and (b) from about 1 to about 75 wt. % poly alpha-1,3-glucan is disclosed. The addition of alpha-1,3-glucan as a polymer filler can increase the tensile modulus, tensile strength and oxygen barrier properties of the polymeric blend composition.

Abstract: The present application relates to methods and compositions and compositions for watering plant roots, and more particularly, to water soluble granular compositions for application to grass and other root bearing plants, the granules including a wood, mineral and binder granule impregnated with a root watering composition having a humectant as its principle constituent, and methods of application and use of the granular compositions.

Abstract: Plasma applications are disclosed that operate with argon or helium at atmospheric pressure, and at low temperatures, and with high concentrations of reactive species in the effluent stream. Laminar gas flow is developed prior to forming the plasma and at least one of the electrodes can be heated which enables operation at conditions where the argon or helium plasma would otherwise be unstable and either extinguish, or transition into an arc. The techniques can be employed to clean and activate a metal substrate, including removal of oxidation, thereby enhancing the bonding of at least one other material to the metal.

Abstract: A display includes a reflective spatial light modulator; a lightguide having a core layer, at least a first cladding layer, and a light emitting region with a plurality of light extraction features arranged in a pattern that varies spatially in the light emitting region such that light exits the core layer in the light emitting region; a light source positioned to emit light into the core layer; a light redirecting optical element optically coupled to the second side of the first cladding layer including a plurality of light redirecting features directing light exiting the core layer toward the reflective spatial light modulator. The largest dimension of the light emitting region divided by the average thickness of the core layer in the light emitting region is greater than 100.

Abstract: In particular embodiments, a data subject request processing system may be configured to utilize one or more local storage nodes in order to process a data subject access request on behalf of a data subject. In particular embodiments, the one or more local storage nodes may be local to the data subject making the request (e.g., in the same country as the data subject, in the same jurisdiction, in the same geographic area, etc.). The system may, for example, be configured to: (1) receive a data subject access request from a data subject (e.g., via a web form); (2) identify a suitable local storage node based at least in part on the request and/or the data subject; (3) route the data subject access request to the identified local storage node; and (4) process the data subject access request at the identified local storage node.

Abstract: A hysteretic current mode buck-boost voltage regulator including a buck-boost voltage converter, a switching controller, a window circuit, a ramp circuit, and a timing circuit. The timing circuit may be additional ramp circuits. The voltage converter is toggled between first and second switching states during a boost mode, is toggled between third and fourth switching states during a buck mode, and is sequentially cycled through each switching state during a buck-boost mode. The ramp circuit develops a ramp voltage that simulates current through the voltage converter, and switching is determined using the ramp voltage compared with window voltages provided by the window circuit. The window voltages establish frequency, and may be adjusted based on the input and output voltages. The timing circuit provides timing indications during the buck-boost mode to ensure that the second and fourth switching states have approximately the same duration to provide symmetry of the ramp signal.

Abstract: These teachings are applicable for use with an individual who faces problems with respect to forming new long term memories. Generally speaking, pursuant to these various embodiments, one automatically captures (101) a record of experiential content to which the individual is exposed during a given episode and then automatically associates (102) that record of experiential content with metadata that characterizes the given episode. This record of experiential content is then automatically used (103) to re-expose the individual to at least portions of the given episode to thereby encourage development of a long term recollection of at least a portion of the given episode. These teachings will accommodate a variety of experiential content modalities including both audio content and visual content.