Intermediate Process Research Articles

Light and electron microscopic observations on retinal neurons of red-tail shark (Epalzeorhynchos bicolor H. M. Smith, 1931).

The structure of photoreceptors (PR) and the arrangement of neurons in the retina of red-tail shark were investigated using light and electron microscopy. The PR showed a mosaic arrangement and included double cones, single cones (SC), and single rods. Most cones occur as SC. The ratio between the number of cones and rods was 3:1.39 (±0.29). The rods were tall that reached the pigmented epithelium. The outer plexiform layer (OPL) showed a complex synaptic connection between the horizontal and photoreceptor terminals that were surrounded by Müller cell processes. Electron microscopy showed that the OPL possessed both cone pedicles and rod spherules. Each rod spherule consisted of a single synaptic ribbon within the invaginating terminal endings of the horizontal cell (hc) processes. In contrast, the cone pedicles possessed many synaptic ribbons within their junctional complexes. The inner nuclear layer consisted of bipolar, amacrine, Müller cells, and hc. Müller cells possessed intermediate filaments and cell processes that can reach the outer limiting membrane and form connections with each other by desmosomes. The ganglion cells were large multipolar cells with a spherical nucleus and Nissl' bodies in their cytoplasm. The presence of different types of cones arranged in a mosaic pattern in the retina of this species favors the spatial resolution of visual objects. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: This is the first study demonstrating the structure and arrangement of retinal neurons of red-tail shark using light and electron microscopy. The current study showed the presence of different types of cones arranged in a mosaic pattern that may favor the spatial resolution of visual objects in this species. The bipolar, amacrine, Müller, and horizontal cells could be demonstrated.

Fully Composable and Adequate Verified Compilation with Direct Refinements between Open Modules

Verified compilation of open modules (i.e., modules whose functionality depends on other modules) provides a foundation for end-to-end verification of modular programs ubiquitous in contemporary software. However, despite intensive investigation in this topic for decades,the proposed approaches are still difficult to use in practice as they rely on assumptions about the internal working of compilers which make it difficult for external users to apply the verification results. We propose an approach to verified compositional compilation without such assumptions in the setting of verifying compilation of heterogeneous modules written in first-order languages supporting global memory and pointers. Our approach is based on the memory model of CompCert and a new discovery that a Kripke relation with a notion of memory protection can serve as a uniform and composable semantic interface for the compiler passes. By absorbing the rely-guarantee conditions on memory evolution for all compiler passes into this Kripke Memory Relation and by piggybacking requirements on compiler optimizations onto it, we get compositional correctness theorems for realistic optimizing compilers as refinements that directly relate native semantics of open modules and that are ignorant of intermediate compilation processes. Such direct refinements support all the compositionality and adequacy properties essential for verified compilation of open modules. We have applied this approach to the full compilation chain of CompCert with its Clight source language and demonstrated that our compiler correctness theorem is open to composition and intuitive to use with reduced verification complexity through end-to-end verification of non-trivial heterogeneous modules that may freely invoke each other (e.g.,mutually recursively).

Highly efficient isomerization of glucose to fructose over Sn-doped silica nanotube

Isomerization of glucose to fructose is a fundamental and key intermediate process commonly included in the production of valuable chemicals from carbohydrates in biorefinery. Enhancement of fructose yield is a challenge. In this work, Sn-doped silica nanotube (Sn-SNT) was developed as a highly efficient Lewis acid catalyst for the selective isomerization of glucose to fructose. Over Sn-SNT, 69.1 % fructose yield with 78.5 % selectivity was obtained after reaction at 110 °C for 6 h. The sole presence of a large amount of Lewis acid sites in Sn-SNT without Brønsted acid site is one of the reasons for the high fructose yield and selectivity. Otherwise, high density of Si−OH groups in Sn-SNT can ensure the presence of Si−OH groups near the Sn sites, which is important for the isomerization of glucose to fructose, leading to the high fructose yield and selectivity. Furthermore, the Sn-SNT is recyclable.

Imparting high elastocaloric cooling potential to NiTi alloy by two-step enhancements

The large adiabatic temperature change during the stress-induced phase transformation in the superelastic NiTi alloy makes it a leading candidate material for solid-state elastocaloric cooling applications. However, NiTi with a uniform grain structure generally offers either large cooling capacity or low energy dissipation, but not both. In an earlier study, we demonstrated that the alloy with graded grain sizes, obtained using differential annealing of heavily cold-worked sheets, can overcome this intrinsic limitation. However, non-transformable components (residual martensite and amorphous phases), which are introduced into the microstructure during cold rolling, impair the full exploitation of the cooling potential of the graded NiTi. Here, we introduce an intermediate processing step, namely post-deformation annealing, which eliminates the undesirable phases while maintaining nanocrystallinity, before imparting a microstructural gradient. Results show that the synergy between various microstructural elements results in a significant enhancement in the cooling capacity while keeping the energy dissipation low. Moreover, the functional fatigue performance of the graded alloy is also preferable to that of the conventional coarse-grained NiTi. The micromechanical reasons behind these improvements are elucidated by recourse to detailed experiments.

Le processus d’intermédiation comme levier de l’innovation sociale

Intermediation plays an essential - but little studied - role in the dissemination of social innovation (SI). In this article, we seek to understand how the process of intermediation in social innovation is constructed and what its effects are. We combine the actor network and creative ecology theories to explore the practices and dynamics at work in the case of the Start-Up de Territoire (SUT) programme. We show that the intermediary function is gradually structured over time, and we identify 4 intermediation processes of SI that condition the transition to scale: building the vision of the territory, expanding the network, bringing out the middleground, and articulating the different levels by distinguishing between top-down and bottom-up translation.

Study of the Astrophysical Origins of Neutron-captue Elements in CEMP Star HE 1005-1439

HE 1005-1439 is a carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) star with [Fe/H]∼−3.0, which is largely enhanced in elements produced by slow neutron-capture process (s-process; e.g., [Ba/Fe]=1.16±0.31, [Pb/Fe]=1.98±0.19), and mildly enhanced in elements produced by rapid neutron-capture process (r-process; e.g., [Eu/Fe]=0.46±0.22). The neutron-capture element patterns of the star can not be fitted by the s-process model or intermediate process (i-process) model. Studying the astrophysical origins of chemical elements in the star based on the method of abundance decomposition can help understanding the formation and evolution of the CEMP stars. Using the combination of s-process and r-process abundances, we fully fit the abundance patterns of the neutron-capture elements of this star. We find that the neutron-capture elements are mainly produced by the s-process of the AGB companion with low mass and low metallicity, and the r-process nucleosynthesis also contributes a little to this star.

Mind Drifts, Data Shifts: Utilizing Mind Wandering to Track the Evolution of User Experience with Data Visualizations.

User experience in data visualization is typically assessed through post-viewing self-reports, but these overlook the dynamic cognitive processes during interaction. This study explores the use of mind wandering- a phenomenon where attention spontaneously shifts from a primary task to internal, task-related thoughts or unrelated distractions- as a dynamic measure during visualization exploration. Participants reported mind wandering while viewing visualizations from a pre-labeled visualization database and then provided quantitative ratings of trust, engagement, and design quality, along with qualitative descriptions and short-term/long-term recall assessments. Results show that mind wandering negatively affects short-term visualization recall and various post-viewing measures, particularly for visualizations with little text annotation. Further, the type of mind wandering impacts engagement and emotional response. Mind wandering also functions as an intermediate process linking visualization design elements to post-viewing measures, influencing how viewers engage with and interpret visual information over time. Overall, this research underscores the importance of incorporating mind wandering as a dynamic measure in visualization design and evaluation, offering novel avenues for enhancing user engagement and comprehension.

Collaborative Governance Process by Disaster Resilient Villages (DESTANA) to Improve Performance

The existence of a Disaster Resilient Village (Destana) is very important for the region in mitigating flood disasters. Destana has the function of protecting the community, increasing community participation, increasing capacity, increasing government capacity in providing resource and technical support for disaster risk reduction, and increasing cooperation between stakeholders. This function will be achieved well if there is collaboration with other stakeholders. Destana's performance will be better if it can create collaborative governance through the right process. The process begins with face-to-face, namely conducting dialogue on existing problems with stakeholders. Followed by a trust-building process, namely creating a sense of trust because of shared interests, after that, the commitment to the process is a joint agreement to carry out the program. The next process is sharing understanding, which is raising awareness together to overcome floods followed by the Intermediate outcomes process, which is evaluating the temporary results of the collaborative process. These steps will be able to run optimally to improve Destana's performance if the right organization is selected to collaborate with so that a scheme is needed that fits the conditions of each village.

Quality Improvement Effect of Waste Concrete Fine Powder by Applying Exfoliation Technology

Since the main components of waste concrete fine powder generated in the process of converting waste concrete into recycled aggregate are essentially the same as the main ingredients of cement-clinker, it is possible to use it as a raw material for cement. In addition, because waste concrete fine powder is a decarbonated salt, using it as a raw material for cement clinker is a very important carbon-neutral technology that can be expected to reduce process-derived carbon emission generated during cement manufacturing. However, waste concrete fine powder has a low calcium oxide content of around 10%, so its usability as a clinker raw material is very low. In order to use waste concrete fine powder as a raw material for clinker, the calcium oxide content must be increased to more than 35%. Separating the hardened cement paste from the aggregate while reducing the crushing ration of the aggregate during the crushing process is an important means of increasing the calcium oxide content of waste concrete fine powder. Accordingly, this study conducted an experimental study to increase the calcium oxide content of waste concrete fine powder using exfoliation grinding technology. The characteristics of waste concrete fine powder recovered through the exfoliation grinding technology were examined for waste concrete collected from a domestic intermediate processing company, model concrete manufactured in a laboratory, and commercially available cement bricks. As a result of the experiment, it was possible to recover the waste concrete fine powder with a higher CaO content by applying exfoliation grinding technology, compared to the dust collection fine powder that could be recovered through the crushing and grinding process.

Financial Intermediation and Fixed Capital Formation in Zimbabwe

Business sustainability is heavily constrained by the shortage of affordable finance of adequate duration and quality. This affects producers and traders' capacity to reorganize their production and exchange systems to attain dynamic competitiveness. Ensuring sufficient and cost-effective high-quality finance in the nation facilitates financial intermediation. The traditional method of channelling and allocating financial resources in an economy has predominantly been carried out by the banking sector. Notably, the level of intermediation had been largely lower than the expected especially during the Covid-19 era implicating as serious problem of disintermediation. This study analyses the impact of financial intermediation on capital formation in Zimbabwe using Autoregressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) model from the first quarter of 2011 to the fourth quarter of 2020. The study finds that the financial intermediation process in the country remains largely weak to enable gross fixed capital formation which facilitates business sustainability. Financial disintermediation by banks is also reducing business sustainability. Several initiatives are suggested to alleviate financial restrictions within the country. One significant proposal involves enhancing competition in the banking sector by further liberalizing it. This is aimed at reducing the cost of credit, fostering financial innovation, and promoting increased credit circulation.

Enhanced biomethane production from waste activated sludge anaerobic digestion by ceramsite and amended Fe2O3 ceramsite

Wastes recycling and reutilization technique could simultaneously fulfill waste control and energy recovery sustainably, which has attracted increasing attention. This work proposed a novel waste reuse technology utilizing ceramsite and amended Fe2O3-ceramsite made from waste activated sludge (WAS) as additives to promote the yield of methane from WAS anaerobic digestion (AD). Experimental results demonstrated that compared to the control (85.05 ± 0.2 mL CH4/g-VS), the cumulative methane yield was effectively enhanced by 14% and 40% when ceramsite and Fe2O3-ceramsite were added. Further investigation revealed that ceramsite, especially the Fe2O3-ceramsite, enriched the populations of key anaerobes involved in hydrolysis, acidification, and methanogenesis. Meanwhile, potential syntrophic metabolisms between syntrophic bacteria and methanogens were confirmed in the Fe2O3-ceramsite AD system. Mechanisms studies exhibited that ceramsite and Fe2O3-ceramsite reinforced intermediate processes for methane production. The favorable pore structure, enhanced Fe (III) reduction capacity and conductivity also contributed a lot to the AD process.

Intermediate Phase Modification Enables High‐Performance Iodine‐Rich Inorganic Perovskite Solar Cells with 3000‐Hour Stability

AbstractThe presence of excess secondary‐phase PbI2 in perovskite films shows a negative impact on their long‐term stability. Herein, an intermediate phase modification (IPM) strategy is proposed to eliminate residual PbI2 for improved quality of all‐inorganic CsPbI3‐type perovskite films, wherein the extrinsic agent is introduced to address the intermediate phase. By transforming residual PbI2 into a novel 1D perovskite phase, the IPM strategy acts as a patch to suture grain boundaries in the inorganic perovskite films. In addition, the IPM strategy not only enhances the quality of perovskite films but also mitigates energy disorder, reduces trap state density, and prolongs carrier lifetime by expediting the intermediate phase conversion process and passivating surface defects. As such, the perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with a high power conversion efficiency (PCE) of ≈20% and a high fill factor of 83.3% are considered to be very efficient, with excellent shelf stability of 3000 h of exposure in air without any encapsulation. This work not only exhibits a novel optimization route for inorganic perovskite but also emphasizes the crucial role of eliminating residual PbI2 in inorganic perovskites.

The role of intermediate factors in China's energy consumption from the perspective of global production chain

With the fragmentation of global production, the share of intermediate trade in international trade has increased significantly. Nevertheless, more research must be done on how intermediate trade factors influence energy consumption. This paper utilized the multi-regional input-output (MRIO) model to categorize China's energy utilization into six parts based on its position within the global production chain. Additionally, it examined the impact of intermediate factors on China's energy consumption through index decomposition analysis (IDA). The results revealed that: (1) from 2000 to 2014, intermediate factors led to an increase of 1380.96Mtces in China's energy consumption, accounting for around 37% of the national total; (2) the reduction in efficiency is the primary cause of the surge in domestic intermediate energy consumption, while the increase in market proportion is the dominant driver promoting international intermediate energy consumption growth; (3) the international intermediate proportion contributed the most among all intermediate factors. Drawing upon the findings above, this paper proposed policy recommendations to regulate China's rising energy consumption, precisely the escalation of intermediate process energy usage, focusing on the global production chain.

Crafting perovskite SrTaO2N nanotubes at mild nitridation conditions: Balancing nanostructure control and phase conversion

Obtaining phase pure and highly crystalline SrTaO2N from its oxide precursors solid–solid mixture requires very high nitridation temperatures (above 1000 °C), which promotes structural defects and sintering. To obtain free-standing SrTaO2N nanotubes (NTs) while preserving their tubular morphology, here we developed a methodology using an intermediate hydrothermal process before nitridation using Ta2O5 or Ta3N5 nanotubes as precursors. The key to obtain SrTaO2N NTs lies in the formation of hydrated Sr-Ta oxide phase obtained through intermediate hydrothermal process, thereby, phase pure SrTaO2N NTs were formed at 850 °C for 10 h for both Ta precursors. Amorphous nature of Ta2O5 NTs presented better reaction selectivity for the formation of SrTaO2N NTs compared to Ta3N5. To preserve the nanotubular morphology, prolonged nitridation is favorable, in contrast to increasing temperature that promotes sintering. This work emphasizes on the importance of an intermediate hydrothermal process before nitridation for Sr-Ta interdiffusion and a balanced trade-off between nitridation time and temperature to control phase and morphology of SrTaO2N NTs.

Financial Intermediation, Economic Growth, and Business Cycles

This paper aims to examine the importance of financial intermediation in economic activity. We also explore the effects of monetary factors and financial frictions on the relationship between financial intermediation and economic growth, the drivers of business cycles, and how shocks spread through the intermediation process. Financial intermediaries improve fund allocation, minimize monitoring costs, minimize liquidity risk, simplify risk management, and facilitate portfolio diversification and resource allocation to more productive activities. In addition, financial intermediaries collect and analyze information about investment projects, allocating resources and managing information more efficiently than individual investors. We conclude that financial intermediation is significant for economic growth. In addition, we show that financial market frictions can amplify exogenous shocks, affecting investment, economic growth rates, and macroeconomic stability. Reducing financial frictions through intermediation is crucial.

A COMPREHENSIVE MEASUREMENT MODEL FOR JOB-HOUSING BALANCE CONSIDERING SPATIAL INTERACTIONS: A CASE STUDY IN SHANGHAI

Abstract. Assessing jobs-housing balance (JHB) is crucial for the optimization of urban spatial pattern and transportation planning. However, due to the limitations of traditional data and the inability to integrate evaluation indicators, the evaluation results may be bias, conflicting with common sense. Considering interaction of multiple factors, a Job-housing balance measurement model (JHBM-SEM) was proposed to accurately evaluate the degree of JHB in a certain area. To address the problem of multi-indicator fusion, the structural equation model is used to incorporate the advantages, limitations and complementary relationships of each evaluation indicator into the evaluation process. A function relationship is defined between factor loadings, path coefficients, and variable scores to construct the measurement model and obtain comprehensive evaluation results. In addition, by integrating multi-source spatiotemporal big data mainly based on mobile signaling data, the paper can effectively mine the current status of job-housing balance in cities, and solve problems such as low precision and granularity of traditional data. The model was validated using Shanghai as an example, and the results show that compared with classical methods, the model's results are more consistent with the real situation of regional jobhousing patterns. It can identify the pseudo-balance phenomenon in underdeveloped areas of the suburbs and make reasonable evaluations, and the intermediate process can explain the direction of the imbalance factors in the region.

Selective electrodeposition of Co-Ni alloys from synthetic quasi LiB NMC 532 cathode sulphate solutions using rotating plate potentiostatic electrowinning

The interest in recycling spent lithium-ion batteries (Li-ionB) has surged due to the rising demand for valuable metals (e.g., Co, Ni, Li and Mn) and concerns about environmental repercussions emanating from conventional battery waste disposal. This research is centered on the recovery of the valuable Ni-Co alloys from synthetic Ni, Co, Mn and Li sulphate solutions mimicking the NMC 532 ratio of elements using a hydro-electrometallurgy process route that integrates hydrometallurgy and potentiostatic electrometallurgy techniques. This quasi-model is done to elucidate the effect of multiple influencing parameters, through isolation and varying, on the selective electrodeposition of Co-Ni from multi-ion (Li, Ni, Mn and Co) complex solutions before applying it using real cathode leachates. The selective electrowinning metal recovery process route is a cost-effective alternative to the energy, cost and material-intensive hydrometallurgy intermediate purification processes such as solvent extraction, selective precipitation, and ion-exchange. The study delves into the effects of various electrowinning parameters, including applied potential, temperature, pH, Co, Ni, Na2SO4, NaH2PO4 buffer concentration, and cathode rotational speed. These parameters were thoroughly investigated and effectively optimised to achieve the recovery of 98.2% pure Ni0.65Co0.35 at a rate of 0.060 g/cm2.h with an impressive 89.25 % current efficiency. The composition of the electrowon deposit was meticulously quantified using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and subjected to analysis through a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM-EDS). Additionally, the phase composition was evaluated using X-Ray Diffraction analysis (XRD). The results successfully demonstrate the technical feasibility of recovering Ni-Co alloys, yielding high quantities of industrial-grade pure Ni-Co alloys. This comprehensive electro-hydrometallurgical process, designed for both closed and loop recycling purposes, promotes a more environmentally preservative approach to recycling spent lithium-ion battery cathode material. The approach contributes significantly to the development of sustainable resource management infrastructure.

A self-synthesized origin for heavy metals in hot subdwarf stars

Context. A number of He-rich hot subdwarf stars present high abundances for trans-iron elements, such as Sr, Y, Zr, and Pb. Diffusion processes are important in hot subdwarf stars and it is generally believed that the high abundances of heavy elements in these peculiar stars are due to the action of radiative levitation. However, during the formation of He-rich hot subdwarf stars, hydrogen can be ingested into the convective zone driven by the He-core flash. It is known that episodes of protons being ingested into He-burning convective zones can lead to neutron-capture processes and the formation of heavy elements. Aims. In this work, we aim to explore, for the first time, whether neutron-capture processes can occur in late He-core flashes taking place in the cores of the progenitors of He-rich hot subdwarfs. We aim to explore the possibility of a self-synthesized origin for the heavy elements observed in some He-rich hot subdwarf stars. Methods. We computed a detailed evolutionary model for a stripped red-giant star using a stellar evolution code with a nuclear network comprising 32 isotopes. Then we post-processed the stellar models in the phase of helium and hydrogen burning using a post-processing nucleosynthesis code with a nuclear network of 1190 species, which allowed us to follow the neutron-capture processes in detail. Results. We find the occurrence of neutron-capture processes in our model, with neutron densities reaching a value of ∼5 × 1012 cm−3. We determined that the trans-iron elements are enhanced in the surface by 1 to 2 dex, as compared to initial compositions. Moreover, the relative abundance pattern [Xi/Fe] produced by neutron-capture processes closely resembles those observed in some He-rich hot subdwarf stars, hinting at a possible self-synthesized origin for the heavy elements in these stars. Conclusions. We conclude that intermediate neutron-capture processes can occur during a proton ingestion event in the He-core flash of stripped red-giant stars. This mechanism offers a natural channel for the production of the heavy elements observed in certain He-rich hot subdwarf stars.

Direct Electrocatalytic Methanol Oxidation on MoO3/Ni(OH)2: Exploiting Synergetic Effect of Adjacent Mo and Ni.

Ni-based materials have been widely investigated as methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) catalysts. The formation of NiOOH and its reduction to Ni(OH)2 are generally regarded as essential steps for methanol oxidation. However, in such an indirect route, the efficiency of proton coupled electron transfer is fundamentally limited by the rate of transition from Ni(OH)2 to NiOOH back and forth. Herein we demonstrate a direct MOR pathway on MoO3/Ni(OH)2 without the formation of a NiOOH mediator. The MoO3/Ni(OH)2 exhibits a benchmark electrocatalytic MOR current density of 1000 mA cm-2 at 1.52 V vs. RHE with a nearly 100% faradic efficiency, outperforming all the state of art MOR electrocatalysts. In-situ Raman spectroscopy confirms that NiOOH is not formed during the electrocatalytic MOR process on the MoO3/Ni(OH)2. Density functional theory calculations suggest that Ni2+ in MoO3/Ni(OH)2 serves as the methanol adsorption site while the doped Mo6+ plays a key role in capturing the deprotonated H·. Benefiting from the Mo-Ni synergistic effect, the energy barrier of the CH2O* → CHO* + H* process is significantly reduced, avoiding the NiOOH formation and leading to the direct MOR. Our research unravels a direct electrochemical MOR pathway that does not rely on NiOOH formation and provides a facile strategy of regulating the intermediate process barrier for MOR.

BiPR-RL: Portrait relighting via bi-directional consistent deep reinforcement learning

Portrait relighting via deep reinforcement learning could conduct portrait relighting by sequentially predicting local light editing strokes, simulating image editing by artists using brush strokes. It is a locally effective, scale-invariant and interpretable method, which yields state-of-the-art results in relighting wild portrait images. However, it still has problems due to the lack of supervision information on intermediate processes, which makes the reinforcement learning agent not receive sufficient feedback during the exploration process. This will cause incorrect strokes in the relighting. To further optimize the relighting effect, we take advantage of the fact that the light editing actions are invertible and the inverse actions can generate a backward sequence of states. The backward state sequence also provide useful supervision signals as they convey information about the future states given the action choices. Therefore, we propose to combine the forward and the backward state sequence predictions to improve the learning efficiency for portrait relighting. Using the bi-directional state sequences, we design corresponding bi-directional consistent rewards to guide the model to explore the actions with higher accuracy to maximize the performance of the proposed method. The proposed approach is used for portrait relighting tasks based on both SH-lighting and reference images. The results show that our method has further improved the performance by avoiding wrong strokes. Meanwhile, our method performs better than SOTA methods in producing locally effective relighting images for wild portrait images.