Correction Step Research Articles

Color‐Accurate Camera Capture with Multispectral Illumination and Multiple Exposures

AbstractCameras cannot capture the same colors as those seen by the human eye because the eye and the cameras' sensors differ in their spectral sensitivity. To obtain a plausible approximation of perceived colors, the camera's Image Signal Processor (ISP) employs a color correction step. However, even advanced color correction methods cannot solve this underdetermined problem, and visible color inaccuracies are always present. Here, we explore an approach in which we can capture accurate colors with a regular camera by optimizing the spectral composition of the illuminant and capturing one or more exposures. We jointly optimize for the signal‐to‐noise ratio and for the color accuracy irrespective of the spectral composition of the scene. One or more images captured under controlled multispectral illuminants are then converted into a color‐accurate image as seen under the standard illuminant of D65. Our optimization allows us to reduce the color error by 20–60% (in terms of CIEDE 2000), depending on the number of exposures and camera type. The method can be used in applications in which illumination can be controlled, and high colour accuracy is required, such as product photography or with a multispectral camera flash. The code is available at https://github.com/gfxdisp/multispectral_color_correction.

A turbulence model: Second-order temporal accuracy

This paper develops the defect-deferred correction method of finite element discretization to solve a turbulence model. The method consists of two phases: (1) implementing an artificial viscosity term as a defect step and (2) applying a correction strategy. This method can not only achieve second-order accuracy in time but also simulate small viscosity problem. Moreover, the stability and convergence of the defect step and the deferred correction step are proven, respectively. Finally, we perform several numerical examples to validate the theoretical analysis and illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

An interface tracking method with triangle edge cuts

This paper introduces a volume-conserving interface tracking algorithm on unstructured triangle meshes. We propose to discretize the interface via triangle edge cuts which represent the intersections between the interface and the triangle mesh edges using a compact 6 numbers per triangle. This enables an efficient implicit representation of the sub-triangle polygonal material regions without explicitly storing connectivity information. Moreover, we propose an efficient advection algorithm for this interface representation that is based on geometric queries and does not require an optimization process. This advection algorithm is extended via an area correction step that enforces volume-conservation of the materials. We demonstrate the efficacy of our method on a variety of advection problems on a triangle mesh and compare its performance to existing interface tracking methods including VOF and MOF.

Bat Ear Correction Steps and Outcomes for Better Life Support.

An unusually projecting human ear is known as a prominent ear, otapostasis, or bat ear. It might be both bilateral and unilateral. The scapha and antihelix of the big concha are not well formed. It is the outcome of cartilage deformity that occurred during early ear development in utero. After the child reaches five years old, the abnormality can be corrected at any time. In order to prevent psychological suffering, the procedure should ideally be performed as soon as possible. Otoplasty correction is reshaping the ear cartilage to bring the ear closer to the side of the head. The cartilage is reshaped, but the skin is left in place. Hearing remains unaffected by the operation. It is mainly done for aesthetic reasons. Although they are uncommon, the post-operative consequences from the operation include hematoma development, keloid formation, infection, and asymmetry in the ears. Otoplasty is a cosmetic operation that involves permanent sutures to alter the size, shape, or location of the ear. The main purpose of otoplasty is to treat promin auris, or bulging ears. Promin auris, the principal indication for otoplasty, is the subject of this review. The indications, contraindications, and method utilized in otoplasty are reviewed in this exercise, which also emphasizes the need of pre- and post-operative care for patients having this surgery. Otoplasty results are generally lifelong and will improve the self-confidence. The goals of otoplasties are to make the ears appear more natural in comparison to the head and help with the overall contour of the ears. Final ear surgery results will be visible after a two week recovery period, with small improvements appearing for up to 12 months post-procedure. A proper understanding of the diagnosis, indications, and surgical techniques will lead to positive outcomes in otoplasty.

Virtual body-fitted grid-based immersed boundary method for simulation of thermal flows with Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions

In this work, a virtual body-fitted grid-based immersed boundary method (IBM) combined with the thermal lattice Boltzmann flux solver (TLBFS) is proposed to efficiently simulate thermal flows with Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions. The method involves generating a virtual body-fitted grid along the immersed boundary and implementing the boundary conditions using a fractional step technique. In the prediction step, the finite-volume TLBFS is used to obtain the predicted flow field on the Eulerian mesh without considering the immersed boundary, while in the correction step, the correction process of the flow field is conducted on the virtual grid. Thus, the effect of the boundary is transferred to the fluid domain through the virtual grid indirectly. For Dirichlet boundary conditions, such as the no-slip condition and the specified temperature condition, the velocity and temperature corrections are considered unknowns and solved through a matrix system formed from enforcing the boundary conditions. As for the Neumann boundary condition, such as the specified heat flux condition, the temperatures at virtual layers inside the immersed body are regarded as unknowns and computed from those at virtual layers outside the wall according to the quadratic distribution. Several benchmark cases including natural, forced, and mixed convection problems are well simulated to validate the method. The numerical results are in good agreement with reference data, demonstrating the capacity of the present method to simulate thermal flows with Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions while requiring fewer Lagrangian points and achieving higher computational efficiency.

A fractional time-stepping method for unsteady thermal convection in non-Newtonian fluids

We propose a fractional-step method for the numerical solution of unsteady thermal convection in non-Newtonian fluids with temperature-dependent physical parameters. The proposed method is based on a viscosity-splitting approach, and it consists of four uncoupled steps where the convection and diffusion terms of both velocity and temperature solutions are uncoupled while a viscosity term is kept in the correction step at all times. This fractional-step method maintains the same boundary conditions imposed in the original problem for the corrected velocity solution, and it eliminates all inconsistencies related to boundary conditions for the treatment of the pressure solution. In addition, the method is unconditionally stable, and it allows the temperature to be transported by a non-divergence-free velocity field. In this case, we introduce a methodology to handle the subtle temperature convection term in the error analysis and establish full first-order error estimates for the velocity and the temperature solutions and 1/2-order estimates for the pressure solution in their appropriate norms. Three numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the theoretical results and examine the performance of the proposed method for solving unsteady thermal convection in non-Newtonian fluids. The computational results obtained for the considered examples confirm the convergence, accuracy, and applicability of the proposed time fractional-step method for unsteady thermal convection in non-Newtonian fluids.

The added value of diffusion tensor imaging with systematic bias correction for the assessment of liver morphology and physiology.

Diffusion-weighted images of the human liver are prone to artifacts from bulk motions, poor SNR, non-uniformity of magnetic field gradients, and non-optimal choice of diffusion weightings. These factors markedly affect diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics such as mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA). This work presents a simple preprocessing pipeline for enhanced magnetic field gradient non-uniformity calibration and analysis of the systematic bias removal attained in each correction step. Liver DTI scans were conducted in two isotropic phantoms and one healthy volunteer. Diffusion tensor was calculated for the original data and after denoising, B1 correction, rigid body registration, and magnetic field gradient non-uniformity correction applying the B-matrix spatial distribution (BSD) method and then, compared with the standard approach (sDTI). MD and FA were determined in three segments of the right lobe from DTI using four different combinations of b-values from the set 0, 400, and 800 s/mm2. Results showed that the proposed preprocessing and BSD methods have a significant impact on MD and FA values in off- and iso-centered isotropic phantoms. The applied corrections applied to the human liver resulted in a 11% change in MD and a - 64% change in FA. By manipulating the b-values used in the diffusion tensor calculation, DTI metrics that reflect only morphology or additional information about liver tissue physiology can be obtained. Accurate quantification of the human liver by diffusion requires appropriate preprocessing and carefully chosen b-value. Noise, B1 inhomogeneity, mis-registration, and non-uniform magnetic field gradients significantly change distributions of DTI metrics in isotropic phantoms and the human liver. Basic preprocessing and the B-matrix spatial distribution (BSD) method perform differently for off-center and isocenter locations. In the human liver, they removed systematic bias of FA and MD by up to -63% and 11%, respectively. Visible variability of FA and MD among b-value sets indicates the possibility of DTI sensitization to different liver compartments.

ANALISIS RASIO LIKUIDITAS DALAM MEMENUHI KEWAJIBAN PADA PERUSAHAAN DAGANG YANG TERDAFTAR DI BURSA EFEK INDONESIA

The objective of this research is to analyze the liquidity ratio in measuring the company's ability to meet obligations in trading companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The usefulness of the research results is expected to contribute to the understanding of solving issues related to the analysis of factors affecting customer loyalty and can be used as a consideration for the companies studied in taking corrective steps for the future. It can also be used as an evaluation material in determining future company strategies. Financial ratio analysis is a part of business or risk prospect analysis for decision-making purposes by evaluating the business environment, strategy, and the company's financial position and performance. The financial statement analyses commonly used by companies include liquidity analysis, solvency analysis, and profitability analysis. Liquidity analysis provides insights into a company's ability to match short-term liabilities maturing with current assets. The liquidity ratio owned by the company can be used as an evaluation material and for the effectiveness of company management. Based on these issues, the author conducted research on "Liquidity Ratio Analysis in Meeting Obligations in Trading Companies Listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange" using annual financial reports for the period 2020-2022. The data analysis technique in this study uses descriptive analysis by collecting data, classifying data, explaining, and analyzing to provide clear information and insights into the issues being researched. The results of the study show the liquidity ratio in measuring the ability of short-term debt of trading companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) for the period 2020-2022, including PT. Bintang Oto Global Tbk, PT. Midi Utama Indonesia Tbk, PT. Wicaksana Overseas International Tbk, PT. Modern International Tbk, and PT. Perdana Bangun Pusaka Tbk. Viewed from the current ratio of 42.22% < 75%, it is categorized as unhealthy, meaning the hypothesis taken is that the company is unable to meet short-term debt obligations with the liquidity ratio. The quick ratio of 286.69% and the cash ratio of 181.31% > 150% are categorized as very healthy, thus the hypothesis taken is that the company is able to meet short-term debt obligations with the liquidity ratio.

GCphase: an SNP phasing method using a graph partition and error correction algorithm

BackgroundThe utilization of long reads for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) phasing has become popular, providing substantial support for research on human diseases and genetic studies in animals and plants. However, due to the complexity of the linkage relationships between SNP loci and sequencing errors in the reads, the recent methods still cannot yield satisfactory results.ResultsIn this study, we present a graph-based algorithm, GCphase, which utilizes the minimum cut algorithm to perform phasing. First, based on alignment between long reads and the reference genome, GCphase filters out ambiguous SNP sites and useless read information. Second, GCphase constructs a graph in which a vertex represents alleles of an SNP locus and each edge represents the presence of read support; moreover, GCphase adopts a graph minimum-cut algorithm to phase the SNPs. Next, GCpahse uses two error correction steps to refine the phasing results obtained from the previous step, effectively reducing the error rate. Finally, GCphase obtains the phase block. GCphase was compared to three other methods, WhatsHap, HapCUT2, and LongPhase, on the Nanopore and PacBio long-read datasets. The code is available from https://github.com/baimawjy/GCphase.ConclusionsExperimental results show that GCphase under different sequencing depths of different data has the least number of switch errors and the highest accuracy compared with other methods.

Efficiency Level of Health Spending Governments: Evidence from North Maluku Indonesia

This study aims to determine and analyze the level of technical efficiency, cost, technical systems and corrective steps that need to be taken by inefficient regions in 10 regencies/cities in North Maluku Province in 2016-2020. This research uses secondary data from 10 districts/cities in North Maluku Province. The variables used include the APBD expenditure variable according to the health function as input, the variable number of puskesmas, posyandu, medical personnel and midwives at puskesmas and government hospitals as intermediate output variables and the variable Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Maternal Mortality Rate (AKI), Number Life Expectancy (AHH) and Human Development Index (IPM) as outcome output variables. This research method uses Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) with the assumption of Variable Return to Scale (VRS) and is input oriented. The results obtained are an average cost technical efficiency of 0%, while the technical efficiency of the system reaches 70%, so that there are indications of inefficiency in the allocation of health sector spending and corrective measures are needed based on the potential for regional improvement which are still not efficient so that the proportion of input and output can be efficient according to the needs of each region.

Relative Homogenization of Climatic Time Series

Homogenization of the time series of observed climatic data aims to remove non-climatic biases caused by technical changes during the history of the climate observations. The spatial redundancy of climate information helps to recognize station-specific inhomogeneities with statistical methods, but the correct detection and removal of inhomogeneity biases is generally not easy for the combined effects of individual inhomogeneities. In a homogenization procedure, several time series of a given climatic variable observed in one climatic region are usually homogenized together via a large number of spatial comparisons between them. Such procedures are called relative homogenization. A relative homogenization procedure may include one or more homogenization cycles where a cycle includes the steps of time series comparison, inhomogeneity detection and corrections for inhomogeneities, and they may include other steps like the filtering of outlier values or spatial interpolations for infilling data gaps. Relative homogenization methods differ according to the number and content of the individual homogenization cycles, the procedure for the time series comparisons, the statistical inhomogeneity detection method, the way of the inhomogeneity bias removal, among other specifics. Efficient homogenization needs the use of tested statistical methods to be included in partly or fully automated homogenization procedures. Due to the large number and high variety of homogenization experiments fulfilled in the Spanish MULTITEST project (2015–2017), its method comparison test results are still the most informative about the efficiencies of homogenization methods in use. This study presents a brief review of the advances in relative homogenization, recalls some key results of the MULTITEST project, and analyzes some theoretical aspects of successful homogenization.

Spectral intensity drift correction of Spark Mapping Analysis for large-size metal materials

BackgroundSpectral intensity drift is a frequent issue in analytical processes, especially in long time excitation scanning for large size metal materials, which can significantly adversely impact the accuracy and stability of analysis results. Spectral intensity drift correction is the process of preprocessing spectral data using mathematical algorithms in order to facilitate the subsequent qualitative and quantitative analysis of spectra, especially in combination with stoichiometric methods. Up to now, spectral intensity drift correction within prolonged excitation has not been reported yet. ResultsWe propose an intensity drift correction method for element content of large-size samples using the Spark Mapping Analysis for Large Samples (SMALS) technique. By considering the row-by-row and column-by-column mapping modes of the SMALS, this includes curve fitting baseline correction for in-row and in-column correction, as well as total average value correction for inter-row and inter-column correction. The final measurement values are derived by coupling rows with columns. The careful implementation of correction steps can enhance baseline correction performance, effectively reducing measurement errors a drift errors. Application of this method to characterize the cross and longitudinal sections of an oversized steel billet indicates high agreement with composition distribution obtained by micro-beam X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF). The corrected longitudinal and cross-sectional data also exhibit strong alignment. Comparison of statistical analysis results pre- and post-correction demonstrates significant improvements in the clarity of elements segregation pattern. SignificanceThis intensity drift correction method not only enhances the spectral quality but also improves the accuracy and robustness of quantitative and qualitative spectral analysis. This study contributes to establishing a robust foundation for component characterization of large-size metal materials using the SMALS technique. The novel spectral intensity correction method shows theoretical significance and practical value for large-scale, long-duration excitation scanning analysis.

Evaluation analysis of electronic governance in the Malang City communication and information service

An innovative public service system can certainly produce more conduciveconditions and foster and develop creativity in the management of serviceunits and government institutions. This article identifies problems or obstaclesthat may occur in electronic governance services at the Malang City Diskominfo,especially on the Sambat Online website. By evaluating the quality and effectiveness of existing services, corrective and enhancing steps can be taken toensure that these electronic services truly provide benefits to the people ofMalang City. This article focuses on the evaluation analysis of Electronic Governance services carried out at the Malang City Communication and Information Service (Diskominfo) using descriptive qualitative research methods. Then the data collection technique was carried out by observation and distributingquestionnaires via Google Forms. The result of this article is that the SambatOnline website service mechanism itself makes it easier for people to makecomplaints online. The service in responding to complaints from the people ofMalang City is in web form (sambat.malangkota.go.id) via SMS, website andAndroid. The supporting factors for managing online sambat in responding tocomplaints from the people of Malang City are the available budget, supporting facilities and infrastructure. Meanwhile, the inhibiting factors for onlinesambat management in responding to complaints from the people of MalangCity are the lack of super admin in the Malang City communications andinformation services department, budgets that have not been allocated to eachregional apparatus and frequent rollovers in the distribution of employeeswithin the Malang City Government.

An approximate block factorization preconditioner for mixed-dimensional beam-solid interaction

This paper presents a scalable approximate block factorization preconditioner for mixed-dimensional models in beam-solid interaction and their application in engineering. In particular, it studies the linear systems arising from a regularized mortar-type approach for embedding geometrically exact beams into solid continua. Due to the lack of block diagonal dominance of the arising 2 × 2 block system, an approximate Block-LU preconditioner is used. It exploits the sparsity structure of the beam sub-block to construct a sparse approximate inverse, which is then not only used to explicitly form an approximation of the Schur complement, but also acts as a smoother within the prediction and correction step of the arising Block-LU preconditioner. The Schur complement equation is tackled with an algebraic multigrid method. Although, for now, the beam sub-block is tackled by a one-level method only, the multi-level nature of the computationally demanding Schur equation delivers a scalable preconditioner in practice. In numerical test cases, the influence of different algorithmic parameters on the quality of the sparse approximate inverse is studied and the weak scaling behavior of the proposed preconditioner on up to 1000 MPI ranks is demonstrated. In addition, the robustness of the proposed method regarding material parameters and geometric properties is shown, before the preconditioner is finally applied for the analysis of steel-reinforced concrete structures in civil engineering.

Pelatihan Eksplorasi Mocktail Dengan Sentuhan Rempah Nusantara Bagi Kampung Adat Cireundeu Bandung

Cireundeu Traditional Village is in Leuwigajah Village, South Cimahi District and has a population of 800 people. Most of the people in the Cireundeu Traditional Village work as cassava farmers and adhere to the Sundanese Wiwitan belief. The traditional potential must be supported by development, especially in the field of providing food and drinks that utilize village potential. Spices are a strong potential of the Cirendeu Traditional Village, they can come from various parts of plants, such as flowers, fruit, bark, stems, tubers, leaves and rhizomes. Spices can not only be used as seasonings for cooking, but can also provide taste, aroma and health benefits to various drinks. The Faculty of Economics and Business, Bina Sarana Informatics University Hospitality Study Program will hold community service with the theme "Mocktail exploration training with a touch of Indonesian spices for the Cirendeu Bandung Traditional Village". The community service partners are the Cirendeu Bandung Traditional Village community. This training activity is a solution for the potential of the Cirendeu Traditional Village. Counseling is carried out in 4 stages, namely; Preparation Stage, Implementation Stage, Monitoring and Evaluation Stage. Community service activities run smoothly and there are no obstacles. Several participants provided suggestions regarding implementation time, but considering the participants' enthusiasm for the community service material this time, some felt that the time was still not enough. The participants were very enthusiastic about taking part in the training and showed that they were very interested in making mocktail drinks with a touch of spices. The process of direct practice and reflection carried out by the instructors has helped them understand the correct steps for making mocktail drinks. This training also offers new business opportunities for participants who want to develop mocktail drinks with the added value of spices.

Analisis Kerentanan Keamanan Website Menggunakan Metode PTES (Penetration Testing Execution And Standart)

With rapid advances in Information Technology (IT), the need for an IT-based learning framework and mechanism has become an unavoidable necessity. This requires solid security in a system, using the Penetration Testing Execution and Standard (PTES) method. This research method is quantitative and descriptive, used to illuminate website security and provide input for improvement. The research involved Tenable Nessus Professional tools that emit vulnerabilities, such as Browseable Web Directory and Potentially Clickjacking Web. The PTES stages covered include Planning, Data Collection, Scanning, Access Rights, Security, and Web Application Firewall (WAF) configuration. The hope is that this method will provide an in-depth understanding of potential threats and vulnerabilities in government information systems, as well as present solutions. The research results are expected to provide education and insight into website security. This allows related parties to take preventive and corrective steps, improve security, and protect the integrity and confidentiality of data entities. As a result, information systems are expected to be more secure and resistant to potential cyber threats.

Benthic habitat mapping for estimating seagrass carbon stock across Takabonerate Islands, Indonesia

Data on benthic habitat cover are essential for monitoring and managing coastal areas, providing valuable ecosystem services for local communities. Moreover, seagrass extent is crucial for estimating carbon stock using Tier-1 calculations. On the other side, remote sensing technology has proven effective in mapping benthic habitat cover, including seagrass, over large local areas. Therefore, this research aims to map specific benthic habitats in a local area to obtain high-accuracy estimates of seagrass extent for carbon stock estimation. The study was conducted in the Takabonerate Islands, Indonesia, using Sentinel-2A imagery. The study involved field data processing, which enabled the mapping of eight benthic habitat classes using Sentinel-2A images, along with the steps for Sentinel-2A image processing for benthic habitat mapping. The benthic habitat map was produced following image correction steps, including atmospheric, sunglint, and water column corrections, followed by image classification using a Neural Net Classifier (NNC). Seagrass carbon stock estimation was performed using the Tier-1 equation from IPCC 2013. The study revealed a total benthic habitat area of 57,538.04 ha, with a seagrass area of 3127.42 ha for carbon stock estimation. The potential seagrass carbon stock in the study area was estimated to range from 337.76 GgC/ha to 31.27 GgC/ha using the Tier-1 equation. The overall accuracy of the benthic habitat map was 80.5 %, calculated using a confusion matrix table. The spatial information from this study can be used by local coastal managers and governments for baseline and monitoring purposes. The key interpretations from this study provide valuable findings that can be adapted and improved for future local mapping purposes.

Simulation of an entanglement-based quantum key distribution protocol

Since the 80 s when it was first proposed, Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) elicited great interest in the field of cryptography as a unique procedure for key generation that could in principle guarantee unconditionally secure communication “by the laws of Physics”. In the last fifteen years commercial solutions have started appearing on the market, showing that practical implementations of the protocol were not only possible but also competitive in terms of security and achievable secret-key rate. In this work we describe a simulation of the historical QKD protocol E91 on the IBM Quantum platform, making use of the qubit formalism to represent the quantum states received by two communicating nodes. Having implemented also the post-processing steps for the error correction and the privacy amplification, this model can represent a simple stand-alone tool to study the performance not only of one-to-one communication but of more complex systems that rely on QKD for security, one above all QKD networks.

MetaboLink: A web application for Streamlined Processing and Analysis of Large-Scale Untargeted Metabolomics Data.

The post-processing and analysis of large-scale untargeted metabolomics data face significant challenges due to the intricate nature of correction, filtration, imputation, and normalization steps. Manual execution across various applications often leads to inefficiencies, human-induced errors, and inconsistencies within the workflow. Addressing these issues, we introduce MetaboLink, a novel web application designed to process LC-MS metabolomics datasets combining established methodologies and offering flexibility and ease of implementation. It offers visualization options for data interpretation, an interface for statistical testing, and integration with PolySTest for further tests and with VSClust for clustering analysis. Fully functional tool is publicly available at https://computproteomics.bmb.sdu.dk/Metabolomics/. The source code is available at https://github.com/anitamnd/MetaboLink and a detailed description of the app can be found at https://github.com/anitamnd/MetaboLink/wiki. A tutorial video can be found at https://youtu.be/ZM6j10S6Z8Q. Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Analysis of Patient Bed Product Quality Control with Six Sigma Method and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) (Case Study of PT. Karya Indah Medika)

PT. Karya Indah Medika is a manufacturing company engaged in the production of hospital furniture. One such product is a patient bed. In each period of patient bed production, there are still defects that occur such as coating defects, dented iron, and broken wheels. The purpose of this study is to determine the percentage of defects, and the causes of defects, and to obtain the greatest risk of failure in the production process in the RPN value so that the type of failure can be determined which should be prioritized first so as soon as possible corrected and determined corrective steps to reduce product defects. The research method used is Six Sigma and Failure Mode Effect Analysis (FMEA). The Six Sigma method includes Define, Measure, Analyze and Improve which will be used to determine the percentage of defects that occur. While the FMEA method is carried out as an effort to improve quality. Based on the research calculations, the results obtained were a sigma value of 3.19σ. Based on calculations using the FMEA method, the largest RPN is obtained for coating defects, namely ink absorption that is not optimal, broken wheel defects, namely operators who are too hasty during assembly, and dented iron defects, inappropriate material quality. Advice that can be given is to control and monitor ink absorption, operators who are more careful and not in a hurry, and check the quality of raw materials before processing.