Commutative operand alignment for interconnect optimization in behavioural synthesis

Exploiting operator commutativity is used in high-level synthesis for reducing interconnections. The standard heuristic is to apply a succession of pairwise operand interchanges. We present a new and general characterization of the problem in terms of graph labelling. An integer linear programming formulation that yields globally optimum results, is presented. Next, a heuristic algorithm and an optimal graph decomposition and labelling algorithm is presented. While the latter finds an optimal solution, in practice, the heuristic approach usually discovers an optimum considerably faster. Experimental results are also presented.     

Studies on Some Physical Properties of Bovine Skeletal Muscle

SUMMARY: The physical properties of the major muscles of the round from 30 crossbred beef and 20 straightbred dairy carcasses were studied. Sex, sire and body type were related to these properties. Generally, the steers had longer, heavier and lighter-colored muscles than the heifers. A negative relationship was noted between the specific gravity and reflectance values for the crossbred muscles. The semimembranosus muscle was heaviest and accounted for the highest percent of the rough round in certain beef and dairy sire groups. In the dairy cattle, the weight of the biceps femoris muscle was also affected by sire. Heritability estimates indicated that the weight of the semimembranosus was highly heritable and its percent of the rough round moderately heritable in both beef and dairy cattle. The dairy b. femoris weight and circumference were also moderately heritable. Color reflectance, specific gravity, pH, length and circumference/length ratio were not observed to be heritable physical properties.     

Spice Quality: Effect of Cryogenic and Ambient Grinding on Color

The effect of cryogenic and ambient milling on the color of spice was investigated to determine its influence on spice quality. A Hunterlab Color Difference Meter and sensory analyses were used to determine if cryogenically milled spices were comparable to ambiently milled spices. Cryogenically milled spices are lighter in color than ambiently milled spices and untrained panelists were able to detect the differences (P ≤ 0.038).     

Scanning interference and confocal microscopy

The form of the interference term image in scanning confocal and scanning conventional interference microscopes is identical in all respects including optical sectioning. This observation is used to obtain confocal images and surface profiles from conventional scanning interference microscope images.     

CONSUMER RESPONSE TO INFORMATION ON INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT

Risk communication theory is used to address consumer concerns about food safety and pesticide residues. Risk perception is a function of actual hazard and "outrage"factors. If concerns are acknowledged and information is provided on how risks are being addressed, the outrage component of perception is reduced. Two 2-min videos were prepared to present information on the environmentally responsive integrated pest management (IPM) approach to farming. The video was shown to a total of 197 consumers in controlled group settings. Although about 90% of participants expressed confidence in the safety of produce grown in California and the United States, 40% said they avoided some produce items due to safety concerns. Pre-and post-attitude assessments and group discussions documented a significant change in attitudes toward food safety, farming practices, and university efforts to help farmers. This project indicates that consumer concerns are significantly reduced when their knowledge of IPM practices is increased.     

Measurement of Tomato Maturity by Delayed Light Emission

Tomatoes were classified into three stages of maturity on the basis of visual color appearance and evaluated for differences in intensity of delayed light emission (DLE) and chlorophyll and carotenoid pigment contents. High correlations between DLE and chlorophyll show that as tomatoes ripened, DLE intensity and chlorophyll decreased and carotenoids increased. Results showed that DLE has a high potential for use in the automated sorting of fresh market tomatoes into categories of maturity.     

Formulation of cream-based liqueurs: a comparison of sucrose and sorbitol as the carbohydrate component

The properties of cream liqueurs with either sorbitol or sucrose as the principal carbohydrate have been investigated in detail. Not only does the use of sorbitol modify the organoleptic properties of the liqueur but its use also promotes a significant increase in shelf-life of the product. In addition, a simple one-stage process for the manufacture of cream liqueurs is described and has been compared with a typical two-stage technique .     

Effects of Dielectric and Steam Heating Treatments on the Storage Stability of Pecan Kernels

Pecan kernels, exposed to dielectric heating treatments for 1, 2, and 2.5 min at 43 MHz, and kernels from in-shell pecans subjected to atmospheric steam for 4 min were evaluated over 16 wk of accelerated storage for flavor quality, formation of hydroperoxides, and moisture equilibrium. All heat treatments were effective in stabilizing flavor quality during storage. Initial peroxide values were greater for higher intensity heat treatments; however, at the end of storage values for these treatments were lower. Moisture equilibrium of the kernels was affected by high heat treatments, which exhibited an initial drying effect and retardation of equilibration during storage. Lipoxygenase was identified in extracts from pecan kernels; however, substances extracted during isolation of the enzyme interfered with reliable replication of results and prevented quantitative analyses in relation to inactivation by heat treatment.