Abstract: The present invention relates to a method which prevents undesirable binding of ddNTPs to double stranded polynucleotides when in the presence of a polymerase. Such methods may be used to prevent the appearance of false positives in methods employing ddNTPs, e.g. in sequence detection methods. The present invention also provides a method of avoiding a false Tm reading or false FRET effects (such as false positive quenching), for example in a melting curve analysis method. In particular a method is provided in which a target nucleotide sequence in a test polynucleotide is detected using a method in which a double stranded molecule is generated which may or may not comprise two labels depending on whether the target sequence is present in which the presence of the two labels is determined, preferably by performing a melting curve analysis.

Abstract: According to an embodiment herein, a method of predicting a trajectory of an aerospace vehicle comprises accessing an observation of a state of the vehicle from sensor data; and using a computing system to predict different possible future positions and attitudes of the vehicle, including using the sensor data and associated latencies to determine a set of vehicle state transitions. Each state transition in the set is computed as a function of estimated latency. The method further comprises using the computing system to update a prior distribution of the vehicle state with the state transitions. Consequently, the predicted trajectory is compensated for latency.

Abstract: According to an embodiment herein, a method of predicting a trajectory of an aerospace vehicle comprises accessing an observation of a state of the vehicle from sensor data; and using a computing system to predict different possible future positions and attitudes of the vehicle, including using the sensor data and associated latencies to determine a set of vehicle state transitions. Each state transition in the set is computed as a function of estimated latency. The method further comprises using the computing system to update a prior distribution of the vehicle state with the state transitions. Consequently, the predicted trajectory is compensated for latency.

Abstract: Systems and methods for representing a flight vehicle in a controlled environment are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system comprises a communications link that extends between a ground-based facility and at least one flight vehicle operating within the controlled environment that is operable to communicate trajectory data between the ground-based facility and the at least one flight vehicle, and a processor configured to generate the trajectory data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling movement of aircraft through a defined air space are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes generating a model of the defined air space. The model is configured to indicate a safe subset of the defined air space for movement. Receiving a trajectory datum from an aircraft facilitates placing the aircraft at an aircraft position in the generated model of the defined air space according to the trajectory datum. A route is generated for the aircraft through the defined air space according to the aircraft position and the safe subset. Control commands are transmitted to the aircraft; the control commands are configured to control the aircraft according to the route.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention a method for processing a plurality of food products includes loading the food products into a vacuum tumbler, filling the vacuum tumbler to a predetermined level with a processing solution having a pH level within a predetermined range, withdrawing air from the vacuum tumbler to create a partial vacuum, rotating the vacuum tumbler for a predetermined time period to expose the food products to the processing solution and the partial vacuum, periodically adding, during the predetermined time period, a predetermined amount of an organic acid to the processing solution to maintain the pH level within the predetermined range, and removing the food products from the vacuum tumbler after the predetermined time period.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention a method for processing a plurality of food products includes loading the food products into a vacuum tumbler, filling the vacuum tumbler to a predetermined level with a processing solution having a pH level within a predetermined range, withdrawing air from the vacuum tumbler to create a partial vacuum, rotating the vacuum tumbler for a predetermined time period to expose the food products to the processing solution and the partial vacuum, periodically adding, during the predetermined time period, a predetermined amount of an organic acid to the processing solution to maintain the pH level within the predetermined range, and removing the food products from the vacuum tumbler after the predetermined time period.

Abstract: An apparatus for destroying pathogens on food, including a steam chamber having an entrance opening and an exit opening. An entrance door structure nominally closes the entrance opening in the steam chamber and an exit door structure nominally closes the exit opening of the steam chamber. Each of the entrance and exit door structures are composed of a plurality of closely vertically adjacent segments that are mounted to the entrance and exit openings to open and close independently of each other. Flanges extend horizontally from the upper and lower edges of the door segments to maintain a relatively close seal with the adjacent door segment even though the door segments are opened or closed a relatively differing amount.

Abstract: An apparatus for destroying pathogens on meat includes a dewatering station, a steam heating chamber, and a cooling chamber. The meat is treated as it is moved along by a conveyor. The dewatering chamber includes an air blower with nozzles for blowing air at the surface of the meat to remove surface water from the meat. The steam heating chamber is disposed adjacent the dewatering chamber and includes a steam heating chamber enclosure that is sealed for maintaining a positive pressure in the steam heating chamber relative to the dewatering chamber. In one embodiment the steam chamber moves along with the meat on the conveyor. The cooling chamber is disposed adjacent the steam chamber opposite from the dewatering station. The cooling chamber has nozzles for spraying chilled water onto the surface of the meat for rapidly cooling the meat after it is passed through the steam heating chamber. The meat conveyor extends through the dewatering chamber, the steam chamber, and the chilled water chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for destroying pathogens on meat includes a dewatering station, a steam heating chamber, and a cooling chamber. The meat is treated as it is moved along by a conveyor. The dewatering chamber includes an air blower with nozzles for blowing air at the surface of the meat to remove surface water from the meat. The steam heating chamber is disposed adjacent the dewatering chamber and includes a steam heating chamber enclosure that is sealed for maintaining a positive pressure in the steam heating chamber relative to the dewatering chamber. In one embodiment the steam chamber moves along with the meat on the conveyor. The cooling chamber is disposed adjacent the steam chamber opposite from the dewatering station. The cooling chamber has nozzles for spraying chilled water onto the surface of the meat for rapidly cooling the meat after it is passed through the steam heating chamber. The meat conveyor extends through the dewatering chamber, the steam chamber, and the chilled water chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that comprises a self-stacking spiral conveyor that traverses through a circulating atmosphere. The atmosphere is manipulated by one or more chambers having an open side adjacent to the perforated sides of the spiral conveyor. Additional control over the circulating atmosphere may be achieved by injection or ejection of gas into one or more chambers.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that comprises a self-stacking spiral conveyor that traverses through a circulating atmosphere. The atmosphere is manipulated by one or more chambers having an open side adjacent to the perforated sides of the spiral conveyor. Additional control over the circulating atmosphere may be achieved by injection or ejection of gas into one or more chambers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for interactively modifying an image defined by original digital data, representing the color content of pixels of the image at a first resolution. The apparatus comprises a first store (4;12) for storing the digital data of the pixels at the first resolution; a monitor (9); a digitizing table (5); and an image processor (6;13,15). The image processor (6;13,15) is responsive to signals from the digitizing table (5) to select a modification algorithm and a portion of the image stored in the first store (4;12) to which the algorithm is to be applied.

Abstract: Heavy oils are simultaneously subjected to hydrocracking and dewaxing using a catalyst comprising zeolite beta and an X or Y or other faujasite zeolite together with a hydrogenation component. The process is able to effect a bulk conversion of the oil while, at the same time, yielding a low pour point product.

Abstract: A method is provided for removing trace amounts of organic chlorides from feedstocks by passing the feedstock in contact with a guard bed catalyst comprising shaped particles formed by extruding a mixture of magnesium oxide and a binder inert to the feedstock. The process has particular importance in removing organic chlorides from toluene feedstocks prior to contacting toluene with a disproportionation or alkylation catalyst comprising magnesium-ZSM-5.

Abstract: A process for simultaneously hydrotreating and dewaxing petroleum fractions is described. The process utilizes a single catalyst system which includes a hydrotreating component impregnated on a controlled pore size base and at least two catalyst components selected from any of an intermediate pore zeolite, a large pore zeolite or Zeolite Beta, and a large pore non-zeolite catalyst.

Abstract: A single catalyst system capable of demetalizing, hydrotreating and hydrodewaxing petroleum residue in a single stage process is described. The catalyst system utilized includes one or more metal oxides or sulfides of Group VIA and Group VIII of the periodic Table impregnated on a base of refractory oxide material and Zeolite Beta. The catalyst also has about 75% of its pore volume in pores no greater than 100 Angstrom units in diameter and about 20% of its pore volume in pore greater than about 300 Angstrom units in diameter.

Abstract: There is provided a zeolite containing catalyst support for denitrogenation of oil feedstocks such as shale oil. The denitrogenation catalyst contains an active hydrogenation catalyst component such as a nickel/molybdenum catalyst.

Abstract: The catalytic demetalation and desulfurization of a residual oil is substantially improved by subjecting the residual oil to hydrodewaxing prior to the demetalation and desulfurization comprising prior to contacting the residual oil with demetalation and desulfurization catalysts, contacting the residual oil, under hydrodewaxing operating conditions effective to significantly reduce the pour point of the residual oil and to cause substantially little demetalization of the residual oil, with a catalyst comprising about 1 to about 10 weight percent of a Group VIB metal, the metals based on the total catalyst, and being present as the oxides or sulfides on a support comprising a composite of alumina and about 5 to about 25 weight percent of a ZSM-5 crystalline zeolite based on the total composite, the catalyst having at least 60 percent of its pore volume in the 50 to 200 Angstroms diameter range or at least 50% of the pore volume in the 30 to 100 Angstroms diameter range.