Abstract: According to some embodiments, a system for widening and densifying a scrape-off layer (SOL) in a field reversed configuration (FRC) fusion reactor is disclosed. The system includes a gas box at one end of the reactor including a gas inlet system and walls of suitable heat bearing materials. The system further includes an exit orifice adjoining the gas box, wherein the exit orifice has a controllable radius and length to allow plasma to flow out from the gas box to populate the SOL with the plasma. The system may also include fusion products, which decrease in speed in the plasma in the SOL, allowing energy to be extracted and converted into thrust or electrical power and further allowing ash to be extracted to reduce neutron emissions and maintain high, steady-state fusion power.

Abstract: A system and method for producing and controlling high thrust and desirable specific impulse from a continuous fusion reaction is disclosed. The resultant relatively small rocket engine will have lower cost to develop, test, and operate that the prior art, allowing spacecraft missions throughout the planetary system and beyond. The rocket engine method and system includes a reactor chamber and a heating system for heating a stable plasma to produce fusion reactions in the stable plasma. Magnets produce a magnetic field that confines the stable plasma. A fuel injection system and a propellant injection system are included. The propellant injection system injects cold propellant into a gas box at one end of the reactor chamber, where the propellant is ionized into a plasma. The propellant and fusion products are directed out of the reactor chamber through a magnetic nozzle and are detached from the magnetic field lines producing thrust.

Abstract: The invention is for a system and method to reduce neutron production from a deuterium-helium-3 (D-3He) fueled, steady-state, small nuclear fusion reactor. The reactor employs a field-reversed configuration (FRC) magnetic confinement scheme and an odd-parity rotating magnetic field (RMFo) that produces periodic, co-streaming, energetic ion beams which heat the plasma. This is accomplished through radio-frequency (RF) heating, which can effectively heat and maintain the plasma. Use of this method will lessen damage to and activation of reactor components and, in doing so, can advance the development of fusion reactors for electrical, power and propulsion applications by alleviating the need for both nuclear-materials and tritium-breeding-technology testing programs.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention that trust between devices is enhanced by distributing a shared secret (e.g. an X.509 certificate or other cryptographic or shared secret mechanisms), utilizing a short range communication mechanism, thereby permitting those devices to securely authenticate and authorize sensitive commands to each other in communication over the Internet or an untrusted network. A system, method and device are also provided for securely and consistently configuring multiple networked devices with network credentials, server addresses, and web service credentials, and standardizing and enforcing any inventory, device management, or other policies desired by a user/operator at the time of installation, utilizing a short range communication mechanism.

Abstract: The invention is for a system and method to reduce neutron production from a deuterum-helium-3 (D-3He) fueled, steady-state, small nuclear fusion reactor. The reactor employs a field-reversed configuration (FRC) magnetic confinement scheme and an odd-parity rotating magnetic field (RMFo) that produces periodic, co-streaming, energetic ion beams which heat the plasma. This is accomplished through radio-frequency (RF) heating, which can effectively heat and maintain the plasma. Use of this method will lessen damage to and activation of reactor components and, in doing so, can advance the development of fusion reactors for electrical, power and propulsion applications by alleviating the need for both nuclear-materials and tritium-breeding-technology testing programs.

Abstract: A method for determining the diffusion of one or more components, the method includes the steps of (i) providing a component fluid flow having one or more components; (ii) providing a blank fluid flow; (iii) bringing the flow (i) into contact with the flow (ii) in a large cross section channel, thereby to generate two laminar flows; (iv) permitting the laminar flows generated in (iii) to flow from the large cross section channel into a small cross section channel; measuring the lateral diffusion of the one or more components from the component flow into the blank fluid flow in the small cross section channel. Also provided is a diffusion method having the steps of measuring the lateral diffusion of the one or more components from the component flow into the blank fluid flow at a plurality of diffusion times.

Abstract: A system and method for fueling a fusion reactor. The system includes a reactor chamber containing a stable plasma including a fusion fuel; a heating system configured to heat the plasma and increase an ion energy of the plasma to a level sufficient for producing net power from fusion reactions in the stable plasma; a plurality of magnets coaxial to the reactor chamber, the plurality of magnets producing a magnetic field sufficient to confine the stable plasma and promote rapid loss of fusion products into a scrape off layer; and a neutral beam injection system configured to inject additional quantities of the fusion fuel to sustain the power output of the fusion reaction.

Abstract: A system and method for producing and controlling high thrust and desirable specific impulse from a continuous fusion reaction is disclosed. The resultant relatively small rocket engine will have lower cost to develop, test, and operate that the prior art, allowing spacecraft missions throughout the planetary system and beyond. The rocket engine method and system includes a reactor chamber and a heating system produce fusion reactions the stable plasma. Magnets produce a magnetic field that confines the stable plasma. A fuel injection system and a propellant injection system are included. Cold propellant into a gas box for converting a cold propellant into a warm propellant plasma at one end of the reactor chamber. The propellant and fusion products are directed out of the reactor chamber through a magnetic nozzle and are detached from the magnetic field lines producing thrust.

Abstract: The invention is for a startup system for nuclear fusion engines in space. The combustion of hydrogen and oxygen produces heat that is used by a heat engine to produce electricity. This can be supplemented by electricity from other operating engines. The exhaust from the combustion is condensed and electrolyzed to produce hydrogen and oxygen once the engine is in operation. This provides a constant source of energy for future startups. The engine is started up at partial power in electricity generation mode and this power replaces the power from the combustion as it grows. The combustor uses the same heat engine as the nuclear engine uses for power generation.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for processing a source video stream of frames of images providing a first type of output format to generate a supplemental video stream used with the source video stream to produce an output video stream having a second type of output format. A modification is received to a luminance of a group of pixels that forms a distinct image that appears in at least one frame in the source video stream. The received modification to the luminance is applied to produce a first modified video stream. The color values for the pixels in the images in the frames in the first modified stream are transformed to different color values to produce a second modified video stream, which is merged with the corresponding frames in the second modified video stream to produce the supplemental video stream.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for processing a source video stream of frames of images providing a first type of output format to generate a supplemental video stream, wherein the source video stream and the supplemental video stream are processed by a video processor to produce an output video stream having a second type of output format. The source video stream has a plurality of frames of digital images comprising an array of pixels for the first type of output format. The color values in the frames of the source video stream are transformed to different color values to produce a modified video stream. The frames in the modified video stream are overlaid onto the corresponding frames in the source video stream with an opacity value less than 100% to produce frames in the supplemental video stream.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for processing a source video stream of frames of images providing a first type of output format to generate a supplemental video stream, wherein the source video stream and the supplemental video stream are processed by a video processor to produce an output video stream having a second type of output format. The source video stream has a plurality of frames of digital images comprising an array of pixels in the first type of output format. The frames of the source video stream are processed by transforming color values for the pixels in the images in the frames to different color values to produce a modified video stream whose frames are merged with the corresponding frames in the source video stream to produce the supplemental video stream.

Abstract: An optical detection system that utilizes an electroluminescent (EL) illumination source is provided. Unlike illumination sources used with some conventional optical detection systems, an EL device is relatively homogeneous and diffuse, and thus may provide uniform illumination to the test sample. In addition, the emitted light intensity of the EL device may be easily controlled by simply varying the voltage or the frequency of the applied current. The relatively flexibility of EL devices may also allow them to be readily incorporated into a chromatographic-based assay device for detecting the presence or absence of an analyte within a test sample.

Abstract: A system that employs transmission-based detection techniques to determine the presence or concentration of an analyte within a test sample is provided. Specifically, the optical detection system contains a chromatographic-based assay device that is positioned in the electromagnetic radiation path defined between an illumination source and detector. To enhance the sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio of the system without significantly increasing costs, the distance between the illumination source and/or detector and the assay device is minimized. The illumination source and/or detector may also be positioned directly adjacent to the assay device. In addition, the system may be selectively controlled to reduce reliance on external optical components, such as optical filters or diffusers.

Abstract: A microfluidic assay device for determining the presence or absence of an analyte within a fluid test sample is provided. The present invention provides a technique for achieving continuous flow in a microfluidic device by using at least one input channel, an analysis zone, and a plurality of wicking channels disposed about the perimeter of the analysis zone. In one embodiment, for example, the wicking channels extend radially from the analysis zone. As a result of the particular configuration of the microfluidic device, an assay may performed in a “single step” without the need for active forces, such as a pressure source, electrokinetic force, etc., to induce flow of the fluid test sample through the device. Likewise, flow rate is controlled so that the dwell time of the fluid test sample within the analysis zone is long enough to allow for the desired reactions and/or detection.

Abstract: A distributed electronic entertainment method and apparatus are described. In one embodiment, a central management resource is coupled to multiple out-of-home venues through a wide area network (WAN). The central management resource stores content and performs management, monitoring and entertainment content delivery functions. At each venue at least one entertainment unit is coupled to the WAN. Multiple entertainment units in a venue are coupled to each other through a local area network (LAN). In one embodiment, an entertainment unit includes a user interface that comprises at least one graphical user interface (GUI). The entertainment unit further comprises a local memory device that stores entertainment content comprising music, a peripheral interface, and a user input device.

Abstract: A diagnostic test unit is provided. The test unit comprises a stem having a first end and a second end, the stem defining at least one flow channel extending between the first end and the second end. A swab is disposed at the first end of the stem, the swab being configured to collect a test sample derived from a biological source that is suspected of containing an analyte. The test unit also comprises a fluid chamber configured to contain a fluid, wherein the fluid chamber is in fluid communication with the swab via the flow channel. The test unit also comprises a rupturable seal that inhibits leakage of the fluid from the fluid chamber prior to use, and an assay for detecting the presence or absence of the analyte. The assay is in fluid communication with the swab, the flow channel, and the fluid chamber.

Abstract: This invention relates to clinical diagnostic assays and related optical bio-discs and a disc-reading apparatus. The invention is directed to a method for determining the blood cell type of an individual.

Abstract: I have invented an Improved Hockey Game. The preferred embodiment of the game comprises hingedly connected critically spaced upper and lower transparent plate assemblies, two corresponding sets of magnetically coupled playing pieces, with inner pieces slidably set between the plates and outer pieces slidably set on the outside surface of the upper and lower plates, a goal permanently set between the plates at either end of the playing surface, a non-magnetic puck with a hard spherical center and a flexible resilient band around its perimeter, and a means for moving the magnetic playing pieces contained between the plates from the outside surfaces of the upper and lower plates comprising cobalt magnets covered with an ultra thin highly polished polymer.

Abstract: Rotating apparatus has a separation zone structure having solid components spaced apart to form gaps. The gaps are large enough to allow disperse particles to change position relative to the center of rotation by passing through the separation zone structure. The gaps are too small to allow particle agglutinants to pass through the separation zone structure.