Experience with Widening Based Equivalence Checking in Realistic Multimedia Systems

The application of loop and data transformations to array and loop intensive programs is crucial to obtain a good performance. Designers often apply these transformations manually or semi-automatically. For the class of static affine programs, automatic methods exist for proving the correctness of these transformations. Realistic multimedia systems, however, often contain constructs that fall outside of this class. We present an extension of a widening based approach to handle the most relevant of these constructs, viz. accesses to array slices, data dependent accesses and data dependent assignments, and report on some experiments with non-trivial applications.     

Travaux pratiques de conception et d’analyses de circuits intégrés analogiques réalisés sur réseau prédiffusé bipolaire

A practical work on design of analog bipolar integrated circuits is presented. The designed circuits are fabricated by Thomson composants militaires et spatiaux(TCMS,) and subsequently measured by the students. The semi-custom technique of pre-diffused array allows no prerequisite knowledge on technology. The process used(HF2C) has a large field of applications due to high performance of the available components (f_t = 3 GHz for theNPN transitors). TheCAD tools involved areSPICE for circuit simulation and Princess (Silvar Lisco) as the layout editor. After being experimented atENSERG, this possibility is extended to a national level within the frame of the French multi chip project (CMP).     

Etude du fonctionnement d’un mélangeur à jonction métal-isolant-métal dans I’infrarouge lointain

Annals of Telecommunications - L’effet tunnel entre deux métaux permet de représenter la non-linéarité d’une diode mim (métal-isolantmétal). Le schéma...     

Evaluation of FFT-Based and Moder Parametrc Methods for the Spectral Analysis of Bioprosthetic Valve Sounds

The objective of this paper is to compare the performance of conventional FFT-based (basic periodogram and Welch's method) and modern parametric (all-pole and pole-zero modeling) methods in estimating the spectral distribution of cardiac bioprosthetic valve sounds, and for the extraction of the two most dominant frequency peaks (DFP). These methods were tested for stability by adding random noise and truncating the bioprosthetic valve closing sounds, and for reproducibility by measuring the variance of the spectra obtained from three consecutive recordings of each patient. Results from a group of 11 patients show that the basic periodogram and Steiglitz-McBride's method with maximum entropy (pole-zero modeling) provide the most consistent (minimal variance) estimates of the DFP's of the closing sounds. However, for estimating spectral distributions, the most stable methods appear to be the basic periodogram and Steiglitz-McBride's method with extrapolation to zero. The basic periodogram appears to be the best compromise to estimate both the spectral distribution and the DFP's of the bioprosthetic closing sounds.     

Mécanisme de l’évolution des champs électromagnétiques dans un simulateur de grandes dimensions. Projet d’un simulateur semi-rhombique

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate theoretically and experimentally the transient electric field in anemp simulator. Using a time domain analysis, the mechanism of the field deformation can be analysed and consequently modifications can be introduced in the conception of new simulators (for example: rhombic simulator).     

The Au-In-Pb system:The AuIn2-In-Pb portion

The Au-In-Pb system was investigated in the AuIn-In-Pb portion of the system. Pb-AuIn and Pb-AuIn₂ quasibinary systems were found:the first, consisting of a eutectic and a monotectic reaction and the second, a eutectic with an inflection in the liquidus. The chief source of information was differential thermal analyses and verification by metallography, X-ray diffraction and microprobe analyses. Four isothermal reactions were found as follows: 1) L₁ ⇌ L₂ + AuIn₂ + AuIn at 433°Celsius 2) L₁ ⇌ Pb + AuIn₂ + AuIn at 316°Celsius 3) Pb + L ⇌ α + AuIn₂ at 172°Celsius 4) α₁ + L ⇌ AuIn₂ + In at 159°Celsius. Verification of these events and the isopleth from 50-50 wt pct Pb-In, a typical solder, to ≈ 47 wt pct Au are given. This work was supported by the United States Energy Research and Development Administration.     

Effect of pasture versus indoor feeding systems on quality characteristics,nutritional composition,and sensory and volatile properties of full-fat Cheddar cheese

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of pasture-based versus indoor total mixed ration (TMR) feeding systems on the chemical composition, quality characteristics, and sensory properties of full-fat Cheddar cheeses. Fifty-four multiparous and primiparous Friesian cows were divided into 3 groups (n = 18) for an entire lactation. Group 1 was housed indoors and fed a TMR diet of grass silage, maize silage, and concentrates; group 2 was maintained outdoors on perennial ryegrass only pasture (GRS); and group 3 was maintained outdoors on perennial ryegrass/white clover pasture (CLV). Full-fat Cheddar cheeses were manufactured in triplicate at pilot scale from each feeding system in September 2015 and were examined over a 270-d ripening period at 8°C. Pasture-derived feeding systems were shown to produce Cheddar cheeses yellower in color than that of TMR, which was positively correlated with increased cheese β-carotene content. Feeding system had a significant effect on the fatty acid composition of the cheeses. The nutritional composition of Cheddar cheese was improved through pasture-based feeding systems, with significantly lower thrombogenicity index scores and a greater than 2-fold increase in the concentration of vaccenic acid and the bioactive conjugated linoleic acid C18:2 cis-9,trans-11, whereas TMR-derived cheeses had significantly higher palmitic acid content. Fatty acid profiling of cheeses coupled with multivariate analysis showed clear separation of Cheddar cheeses derived from pasture-based diets (GRS or CLV) from that of a TMR system. Such alterations in the fatty acid profile resulted in pasture-derived cheeses having reduced hardness scores at room temperature. Feeding system and ripening time had a significant effect on the volatile profile of the Cheddar cheeses. Pasture-derived Cheddar cheeses had significantly higher concentrations of the hydrocarbon toluene, whereas TMR-derived cheese had significantly higher concentration of 2,3-butanediol. Ripening period resulted in significant alterations to cheese volatile profiles, with increases in acid-, alcohol-, aldehyde-, ester-, and terpene-based volatile compounds. This study has demonstrated the benefits of pasture-derived feeding systems for production of Cheddar cheeses with enhanced nutritional and rheological quality compared with a TMR feeding system.     

Awareness of coeliac disease and the gluten status of ‘gluten‐free’ food obtained on request in catering outlets in Ireland

The only current effective treatment for coeliac disease (CD) is a lifelong diet that is as free from gluten as possible. This study provides baseline evidence to inform future interventions of benefit to CD sufferers by examining awareness of CD issues by food servers and preparation staff, assessing their claims to provide gluten‐free foods by analysis of a meal concurrently sampled. While the majority of attempts to purchase a ‘gluten‐free’ meal on request in restaurants were successful, some 10% of all samples contained gluten, 2.7% between 21 and 100 mg kg^?1, and 7.7% >100 mg kg^?1 and two unsatisfactory samples were purchased from so‐called coeliac‐friendly restaurants. These findings were consistent with those obtained previously by Collin et al. [Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics 19 (2004) 1277], Størsrud et al. [European Food Research & Technology 217 (2003) 481], Gélinas et al. [International Journal of Food Science & Technology 43 (2008) 1245] for cross contamination with gluten. Staff confidence, ‘gluten‐free’ notices, signs and menu choices were no guarantee of risk‐free dining for CD sufferers. Based on our findings we suggest the need for further training, specifically for chefs and managers.     

Oxidative stability of mahi mahi red muscle dipped in tilapia protein hydrolysates

The oxidative stability of mahi mahi red muscle dipped in tilapia protein hydrolysates was evaluated. Alkali solubilised tilapia protein isolate was hydrolysed using Flavourzyme to 13% degree of hydrolysis. Whole tilapia protein hydrolysate and ultrafiltered fraction <10 kDa were used as dip solutions. Mahi mahi red muscle was dip treated either for 2 or 4 min and stored at 4 °C. Lipid hydroperoxides (PV), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and a∗ value were measured at regular intervals. Results showed that dip treatments significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the formation of PV and TBARS over 90 h storage time. There was no significant (p > 0.05) difference between WH and <10 kDa fractions, and between 2 and 4 min treatments. Red colour of treated samples measured as a∗ value decreased with storage time, but was not significantly different from the control. It could be concluded that dip treatment for 2 min in whole tilapia protein hydrolysate may be used as a potential antioxidant treatment for improving oxidative stability of fish fillets.