Abstract: Provided are techniques for operating a pipeline that include: determining, based on observed operational parameters of equipment of an upstream process facility, an indirect quality parameter for processed production fluid output from the process facility and routed into a pipeline; determining, based on characteristics of the processed production fluid output from the facility, a direct quality parameter for the processed fluid; determining a quality parameter for the processed fluid defined as the greater of the indirect and the direct quality parameter for the processed fluid; determining, based on the quality parameter for the processed fluid, a model of the pipeline that includes a cumulative water accumulation of a segment of the pipeline; determining, based on the cumulative water accumulation, a water remediation schedule for the segment; and conducting, in accordance with the schedule, a water remediation operation in the segment of the pipeline.

Abstract: A method implements an unsupervised and nonparametric approach for visualizing outliers by invariant detection scoring. The method includes receiving a selection of input data comprising a plurality of input values. The method further includes processing the input data to generate a distance matrix. The method further includes processing the distance matrix to generate neighborhood cumulative distribution function (NCDF) curves. The method further includes processing the NCDF curves to generate scores. The method further includes processing the scores to identify an anomalous value, in the input data, that corresponds to a score, of the scores, meeting a criterion.

Abstract: An apparatus produces a target metabolite in a bioreaction. The apparatus has a reactor vessel that contains a bulk liquor in which the bioreaction is conducted, with a headspace provided above the bulk liquor. In some instances, the target metabolite is favorably partitioned into a foam formed at an interface of the bulk liquor and the headspace. A foam collector is arranged to receive this foam from the bioreactor and break it into a condensed foam liquid, from which the target metabolite may be isolated and purified. In one exemplary application, paenibacillin is produced by fermentation of a medium by Paenibacillus polymyxa OSY-DF, and is preferentially concentrated in the foam. In another exemplary application, fermentation of a medium by Bacillus velezensis GF610 produces amyloliquecidin GF610 is which is preferentially concentrated in the foam.

Abstract: Detecting breast abnormalities includes receiving a first mammographic image having original pixels. A second mammographic image is generated by enhancing the first mammographic image. Enhancing the first mammographic image includes performing the following for each original pixel in at least a subset of the original pixels. A histogram is generated for a region surrounding the original pixel, the region defined by an enhancement sliding window. Using the histogram, a value of the original pixel is revised to obtain a revised value, and the revised value is stored in the second mammographic image. A breast abnormality location is detected based on the second mammographic image.

Abstract: A thermal simulator simulates the thermal behavior of items such as eggs for which the actual internal temperature profile is difficult to measure. A yolk body simulates the egg yolk, an albumen body surrounds the yolk body and simulates the egg albumen, and a shell layer surrounds the albumen body to simulate the shell. The thermal properties of the materials forming the egg body, albumen body and shell layer are tuned to match the thermal properties of the egg yolk, egg albumen and egg shell. Thermometric devices are positioned within the egg body and egg albumen along with communication devices which process signals from the thermometric devices indicative of temperature and communicate these signals to a computer for further processing and display.

Abstract: Detecting breast abnormalities includes receiving a first mammographic image having original pixels. A second mammographic image is generated by enhancing the first mammographic image. Enhancing the first mammographic image includes performing the following for each original pixel in at least a subset of the original pixels. A histogram is generated for a region surrounding the original pixel, the region defined by an enhancement sliding window. Using the histogram, a value of the original pixel is revised to obtain a revised value, and the revised value is stored in the second mammographic image. A breast abnormality location is detected based on the second mammographic image.

Abstract: A thermal simulator simulates the thermal behavior of items such as eggs for which the actual internal temperature profile is difficult to measure. A yolk body simulates the egg yolk, an albumen body surrounds the yolk body and simulates the egg albumen, and a shell layer surrounds the albumen body to simulate the shell. The thermal properties of the materials forming the egg body, albumen body and shell layer are tuned to match the thermal properties of the egg yolk, egg albumen and egg shell. Thermometric devices are positioned within the egg body and egg albumen along with communication devices which process signals from the thermometric devices indicative of temperature and communicate these signals to a computer for further processing and display.

Abstract: A thermal simulator simulates the thermal behavior of items such as eggs for which the actual internal temperature profile is difficult to measure. A yolk body simulates the egg yolk, an albumen body surrounds the yolk body and simulates the egg albumen, and a shell layer surrounds the albumen body to simulate the shell. The thermal properties of the materials forming the egg body, albumen body and shell layer are tuned to match the thermal properties of the egg yolk, egg albumen and egg shell. Thermometric devices are positioned within the egg body and egg albumen along with communication devices which process signals from the thermometric devices indicative of temperature and communicate these signals to a computer for further processing and display.

Abstract: A thermal simulator simulates the thermal behavior of items such as eggs for which the actual internal temperature profile is difficult to measure. A yolk body simulates the egg yolk, an albumen body surrounds the yolk body and simulates the egg albumen, and a shell layer surrounds the albumen body to simulate the shell. The thermal properties of the materials forming the egg body, albumen body and shell layer are tuned to match the thermal properties of the egg yolk, egg albumen and egg shell. Thermometric devices are positioned within the egg body and egg albumen along with communication devices which process signals from the thermometric devices indicative of temperature and communicate these signals to a computer for further processing and display.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating items with a treatment gas to decontaminate the items includes a chamber which receives the items. The chamber has a gas inlet in fluid communication with a distribution duct positioned within the chamber. The duct distributes the treatment gas throughout the chamber to prevent gas stratification. The chamber may also have a gas outlet for exhausting the chamber, a treatment gas source providing gas, such as ozone, carbon dioxide, or other treatment gas to the chamber. A vacuum pump is used to lower the pressure within the chamber and a purge pump is used to flush the treatment gas from the chamber upon completion of the treatment. A liquid reservoir is used to maintain a desired humidity within the chamber. A heat exchanger is used to maintain a desired temperature within the chamber, and a fan is used to circulate the treatment gas within the chamber.

Abstract: A method for treating shell eggs with a gas includes subjecting the eggs to lower than atmospheric pressure for a period of time, heat for a period of time, and a treatment gas for a period of time. The treatment gas may be ozone at about 8-12% concentration by weight, the treatment temperature may be between 55° C. and 60° C. for about 2-25 minutes, and the atmospheric pressure may be from about 60-81 kPa for about 33 minutes or less. Eggs treated using this method showed a reduction in the concentration of Salmonella Enteritidis of at least log 5.

Abstract: Tools and methods for detecting the presence bacteria, yeast and mold in a sample obtained from a food sample are provided. The methods employ a polymerase chain reaction and primer and probe sets that are based on the 16S rRNA and squalene-hopene cyclase genes of Alicyclobacillus and Geobacillus and the 18S rDNA gene of mold and yeast. The present invention also relates to primer and probe sets. Each primer and probe set comprises a forward primer and a reverse primer, both of which are from 15 to 35 nucleotides in length and a probe.

Abstract: An improved method is provided for inactivating microorganisms in food products by introducing an edible phenolic compound in a food product and subjecting the resulting food product containing phenolic compound to high pressure conditions. This particular combination of physical and chemical treatments on the food products inactivates undesirable microorganisms in a food product to a significantly greater degree possible than achieved with any one of the treatments by itself, and the combined antimicrobial effect of these different types of treatments is synergistically greater than any additive effect that might be expected from the individual treatments.

Abstract: Tools and methods for detecting the presence bacteria, yeast and mold in a sample obtained from a food sample are provided. The methods employ a polymerase chain reaction and primer and probe sets that are based on the 16S rRNA and squalene-hopene cyclase genes of Alicyclobacillus and Geobacillus and the 18S rDNA gene of mold and yeast. The present invention also relates to primer and probe sets. Each primer and probe set comprises a forward primer and a reverse primer, both of which are from 15 to 35 nucleotides in length and a probe.