Abstract: Application of axial seed magnetic fields in the range 20-100 T that compress to greater than 10,000 T (100 MG) under typical NIF implosion conditions may significantly relax the conditions required for ignition and propagating burn in NIF ignition targets that are degraded by hydrodynamic instabilities. Such magnetic fields can: (a) permit the recovery of ignition, or at least significant alpha particle heating, in submarginal NIF targets that would otherwise fail because of adverse hydrodynamic instability growth, (b) permit the attainment of ignition in conventional cryogenic layered solid-DT targets redesigned to operate under reduced drive conditions, (c) permit the attainment of volumetric ignition in simpler, room-temperature single-shell DT gas capsules, and (d) ameliorate adverse hohlraum plasma conditions during laser drive and capsule compression. In general, an applied magnetic field should always improve the ignition condition for any NIF ignition target design.

Abstract: A forward osmosis method for desalination includes recyclable driving solutes which are easy to remove and recycle, have a high rejection by forward osmosis membranes, have low toxicity and are cost efficient.

Abstract: A method and device for extracting fluid from a body of fluid is has a bellows with a feed system interfaced to a first end of the bellows. A floating head is interfaced to a distal second end of the bellows and has one or more buoyancy elements. The buoyancy elements cause the floating head to float at a surface of the fluid. One or more inlets on a lower surface of the floating head are in fluid communication with the distal second end of the bellows, such that, fluid from a stratum beneath the surface of the fluid is drawn into the inlet(s), passes through the bellows, and into the feed system.

Abstract: A method for an airborne vehicle includes visually displaying a representation of an environment below the vehicle and a landing zone in the environment, computing a range of approach gates that enable the vehicle to reach the landing zone at a desired glide slope while satisfying minimum obstacle clearance, and visually displaying the range in the representation.

Abstract: A flow control system for a body of water includes a floating portion that is covered by a shroud and includes a buoyant member. The floating portion has an inlet portion within the shroud and the inlet portion is suspended distal from the floating portion forming a gap. A stationary portion is interfaced to a containment surface of the body of water and is in fluid communication with a drainage system. An extendable member is interfaced to the inlet portion, fluidly interfacing an orifice of the inlet portion to the stationary portion, and therefore to the drainage system. When in use, fluid from below a surface of the body of water flows through the gap, into the orifice, through the extendable member, and out through the drainage system. The flow rate of the fluid is constant through a range of depths of the body of water.

Abstract: A flow control system for a body of water includes a floating portion that is covered by a shroud and includes a buoyant member. The floating portion has an inlet portion within the shroud and the inlet portion is suspended distal from the floating portion forming a gap. A stationary portion is interfaced to a containment surface of the body of water and is in fluid communication with a drainage system. An extendable member is interfaced to the inlet portion, fluidly interfacing an orifice of the inlet portion to the stationary portion, and therefore to the drainage system. When in use, fluid from below a surface of the body of water flows through the gap, into the orifice, through the extendable member, and out through the drainage system. The flow rate of the fluid is constant through a range of depths of the body of water.

Abstract: A chair including a fold down seat which is closed against the side or rear of a stroller or wheelchair for transit or storage, but which is deployable to rotate outwardly therefrom for sitting upon when desired.

Abstract: A flow control system of the present invention includes a movable riser slideably engaged with a stationary riser and having a flange. The stationary riser is interfaced to a downstream drainage system. The movable riser is made buoyant by one or more floats such that, as the water level around the flow control system changes, the movable riser follows the changes based upon the buoyancy of the float(s), thereby maintaining the flange at a constant depth. The gap between an upper edge of the flange and the inner perimeter of the stationary riser coupled with an area of the gap defines a flow rate that is constant. Vents couple an inner cavity of the movable riser to air above the fluid, the inner cavity being in communication with the drainage system as well.

Abstract: A method comprises supplying textures and location information to a graphics processing unit. The textures represent elevation data of obstructions in an environment. The location information indicates locations of an object in the environment and a reference point. The method further comprises using a plurality of shader units of the graphics processing unit in parallel to process the texture to determine intervisibility between the object and the reference point.

Abstract: Application of axial seed magnetic fields in the range 20-100 T that compress to greater than 10,000 T (100 MG) under typical NIF implosion conditions may significantly relax the conditions required for ignition and propagating burn in NIF ignition targets that are degraded by hydrodynamic instabilities. Such magnetic fields can: (a) permit the recovery of ignition, or at least significant alpha particle heating, in submarginal NIF targets that would otherwise fail because of adverse hydrodynamic instability growth, (b) permit the attainment of ignition in conventional cryogenic layered solid-DT targets redesigned to operate under reduced drive conditions, (c) permit the attainment of volumetric ignition in simpler, room-temperature single-shell DT gas capsules, and (d) ameliorate adverse hohlraum plasma conditions during laser drive and capsule compression. In general, an applied magnetic field should always improve the ignition condition for any NIF ignition target design.

Abstract: A method and device for extracting fluid from a body of fluid is has a bellows with a feed system interfaced to a first end of the bellows. A floating head is interfaced to a distal second end of the bellows and has one or more buoyancy elements. The buoyancy elements cause the floating head to float at a surface of the fluid. One or more inlets on a lower surface of the floating head are in fluid communication with the distal second end of the bellows, such that, fluid from a stratum beneath the surface of the fluid is drawn into the inlet(s), passes through the bellows, and into the feed system.

Abstract: A chair including a fold down seat which is closed against the side or rear of a stroller or wheelchair for transit or storage, but which is deployable to rotate outwardly therefrom for sitting upon when desired.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for acquiring targeted data stored in a computing device using a data acquiring apparatus is provided. The method includes coupling the computing device to the data acquiring apparatus, and displaying a user interface on a screen associated with the computing device, wherein the user interface lists a plurality of data acquiring programs. The method further includes detecting a designation of a particular drive of the computing device following the user selection of one of a plurality of data acquiring programs, activating the selected data acquiring program to search in the designated particular drive for a data entity that corresponds to a search function of the selected data acquiring program, generating a copy of the data entity if found by the search, and submitting the copied data entity to a folder in the data acquiring apparatus for further processing.

Abstract: A chair including a fold down seat which is closed against the side or rear of a stroller or wheelchair for transit or storage, but which is deployable to rotate outwardly therefrom for sitting upon when desired.

Abstract: A flow control system of the present invention includes a movable riser slideably engaged with a stationary riser and having a flange. The stationary riser is interfaced to a downstream drainage system. The movable riser is made buoyant by one or more floats such that, as the water level around the flow control system changes, the movable riser follows the changes based upon the buoyancy of the float(s), thereby maintaining the flange at a constant depth. The gap between an upper edge of the flange and the inner perimeter of the stationary riser coupled with an area of the gap defines a flow rate that is constant. Vents couple an inner cavity of the movable riser to air above the fluid, the inner cavity being in communication with the drainage system as well.

Abstract: A modular dock unit and system for making large modular dock systems is disclosed. The dock unit includes a molded floatation shell, a molded decking piece and a molded water-tight retainer ring. The floatation shell has column supports molded therein suitable for holding support members. In use, support member are placed in flanges molded into the support columns and the floatation shell rim. The water-tight retainer ring is placed on the side support members and the decking piece is opposed to the water-tight retainer. Mounting aids such as tongue and groove members are molded in opposing pieces of floatation shell, retainer and deck and secured where necessary. The dock unit also includes a boat bumper system that mates with the dock units to surround the modular dock system. When assembled, the dock unit comprises a water-tight flotation cavity protecting the internal components and providing buoyancy to the dock unit.

Abstract: A flow control system includes a movable riser with multiple flow rate restrictors within a stationary riser that is interfaced to a drainage system. The movable riser is buoyed by float(s) attached to the movable riser. As the fluid level around the flow control system changes, the movable riser tracks the changes, thereby raising and lowering the flow rate restrictors. Since the flow rate restrictors have differing areas in the horizontal plane, an interstitial opening between the outer edge of each flow rate restrictor and the inner perimeter of the stationary riser differs. The flow rate is constant and proportional to the depth of the fluid over the interstitial opening with the least area. The flow rate remains constant until that flow rate restrictor creating the smallest interstitial opening lifts above the upper edge of the stationary riser at which time, the next flow rate restrictor determines the flow rate.

Abstract: An application for a flow control system includes a movable riser in fluid communication and slideably engaged with a stationary riser, the stationary riser being in fluid communication with a drainage system. The movable riser is made buoyant by one or more attached floats such that, when the liquid level around the flow control system increases to a pre-determined level, the movable riser lifts due to the buoyancy of the float(s), thereby maintaining the pre-determined displacement as the water level continues to rise, yielding either a constant flow rate or a variable, predictable flow rate through the drainage system.

Abstract: A modular dock unit and system for making large modular dock systems is disclosed. The dock unit includes a molded floatation shell, a molded decking piece and a molded dri-loc retainer ring. The floatation shell has column supports molded therein suitable for holding support members. In use, support member are placed in flanges molded into the support columns and the floatation shell rim. The dri lock retainer is placed on the side support members and the decking piece is opposed to the dri-loc retainer. Mounting aids such as tongue and groove members are molded in opposing pieces of floatation shell, retainer and deck and secured where necessary. The dock unit also includes a boat bumper system that mates with the dock units to surround the modular dock system. When assembled, the dock unit comprises a water-tight flotation cavity protecting the internal components and providing buoyancy to the dock unit.

Abstract: A forward osmosis method for desalination includes recyclable driving solutes which are easy to remove and recycle, have a high rejection by forward osmosis membranes, have low toxicity and are cost efficient.