Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aspects on the optimization of die-sinking EDM of tungsten carbide-cobalt

At present, due to their properties, the tungsten carbide-cobalt (WC-Co) composite materials are in huge demand by industry to manufacture special tools, dies/molds and components under erosion. The powder metallurgy is the usual process applied to obtain WC-Co products, but in some cases this process is unable to produce tools of very complex shapes and highly intricate details. Thus, additional conventional and non-conventional machining processes are required. In this context, the electrical discharge machining (EDM) is an efficient alternative process. However, the EDM parameters have to be properly set for any different tungsten carbide-cobalt composition and electrode material to achieve an appropriate level of machining performance. In this work, a special grade of tungsten carbide-cobalt was used as workpiece and a copper-tungsten alloy as electrode. Experiments on important EDM electrical and non-electrical parameter settings with reference to material removal rate, electrode wear ratio and surface roughness were carried out under typical rough and finish machining. This paper contributes with an attempt to provide insightful guidelines to optimize electrical discharge machining of WC-Co composite materials using CuW alloy electrodes.
IMPACT OF MARKET-DETERMINED EXCHANGE RATES ON RICE PRODUCTION AND IMPORT IN NIGERIA

Rice is an economically important food security crop, cultivated in almost all of Nigeria’s 36 States. Nigeria spends more than 356 billion naira (2.24 billion US dollars) annually on rice import. This paper set out to analyze the trend in rice production, productivity, import, value of import and consumption that follows the adoption of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) in Nigeria, with emphasis on the effects of exchange rate (ER) deregulation on domestic rice production and rice imports over the period 1986-2010. Relevant time series data were collected and used. A semi-log growth rate model and 2simple linear regression models were developed and estimated. Highlights of the findings include (i) accelerated rate of growth in rice production (Instantaneous Growth Rate (IGR) 2.2%; Cumulative Growth Rate (CGR) 2.2%); rice hectarage (IGR 3.7%; CGR 3.8%); rice importation (IGR 8.5%; CGR8.9%); expenditure on rice importation (IGR 10.6%; CGR 11.2%) and rice consumption (IGR 3.4%; CGR 3.5%) alongside a significant deceleration in rice yield (IGR -1.4%; CGR -201.4%) (ii) The observed significant increase in domestic rice production cannot be confidently attributed to ER deregulation alone because it does not lead to a decrease in rice importation into Nigeria. (iii) The significant increase in domestic rice importation as observed contradicts a priori expectation that ER deregulation will lead to significant decrease in rice importation. The study concluded that free market approach alone cannot stimulate local agricultural production in countries where farmers producing under low-technology-agriculture are put in direct competition with farmers from advanced-technology-agriculture; hence governments need to restrict importation to protect local producers
Decolourization of Palm Oil by Nigerian Local Clay: A Study of Adsorption Isotherms and Bleaching Kinetics

The Mechanism of decolourization of crude palm oil using local clay obtained from Nteje town in Anambra State, Nigeria was studied in order to understand the bleaching mechanism. The raw clay was characterized to determine its properties. Chemical activation of the clay was done using sulphuric acid. The effect of parameters such as time, temperature, particle size and dosage on the bleaching of palm oil was investigated. It was found that bleaching efficiency increased with increase in time, temperature and dosage, and decreased with increase in particle size. Langmuir and Freundlich models were used to study the adsorption mechanism. The adsorption data conformed to Freundlich isotherm. The heat of adsorption was determined as 35.6KJmol -1 which showed that bleaching process was chemisorption. The rate constant was evaluated as 1.552, indicating that there is a high rate of adsorption during the bleaching of palm oil.
A comparison of two seabird communities on opposite coasts of the Alborán Sea (western Mediterranean)

We compared the seabird communities at two sites of the southern and northern shores of the Alboran Sea in the Western Mediterranean (Melilla and Adra respectively) during a whole year. Similarities and differences in environmental characteristics of the two study sites were caused by a set of geographical, physical and socio-economic human factors. Sampling was performed weekly during two-hour periods by counting seabirds crossing a given point of the coast. We found similarities in the composition and seasonality of the species between Melilla and Adra. However, there were differences between the two sites in the number of species and individuals, which were usually higher on the southern shore. In this area, seabirds depending on marine trophic resources were more abundant, whereas on the northern shore the most abundant seabird species were those whose feeding habits were not so dependent on sea resources.
Seeing What's Not THere: The Enigma of Entrepreneurship

The process is clear: entrepreneurs initiate business ventures. What is not clear is why they do so. The debate continues to rage about entrepreneurial behavior and this singular act of individual volition which is so vital to a nation's economic health and well being. The drives and personalities continue to be debated. Gartner (1988) asks, "Can one know the dancer from the dance? " Is it even important to try? Carland, Hoy and Carland (I 988) think it is essential because one cannot understand the dance without understanding the dancer.We think that the dance takes on the personality of the dancer. It is the dancer who interprets the dance and each artist makes the process his or her own. If we seek to understand the entrepreneurial process, we must have some insight into the entrepreneurial psyche. This is especially true if we wish to design educational and training programs for prospective and practicing entrepreneurs.In this work, we empirically examine 502 owner/managers of small businesses. We identify entrepreneurial vision, the ability to see what is not there, as their commonality. We empirically /ink that vision to the entrepreneurial psyche and use that to build insight into the entrepreneurial enigma, the process of entrepreneurship.
Proteomic Analysis of Potential Breast Cancer Biomarkers

1.1 Cell signalling and tumorigenesis In multi-cellular organisms, cells have to communicate with each other in order to control their proliferation, differentiation, survival and to perform diverse physiological functions. Cells release and receive signals to induce these different states of growth either by direct cell-to-cell interaction or via secreted molecules. This communication is elicited through socalled signaling molecules such as transmembrane receptors that are embedded in cell membrane and can activate intracellular signal transduction cascades which ultimately lead to gene activation or repression and a cellular response. According to the specificity, strength and duration of the signal received, the cell will proliferate, differentiate, change shape, migrate, and enter into growth arrest or undergo apoptosis. These complex signaling networks are highly regulated and alterations of the normal intracellular signals can lead to the development of diseases such as cancer. It is now known that a series of genetic mutations are required for the progressive conversion of normal human cells into cancerous cells. Hanahan and Weinberg have proposed a model of tumorigenesis, whereby several physiological conditions are required before cells become tumorigenic (Hanahan and Weinberg, 2011). These include self-sufficiency in growth signals, insensitivity to growthinhibitory signals, evasion of programmed cell death, limitless replicative potential, sustained angiogenesis, tissue invasion and metastasis. In proliferative signaling pathways for example, numerous proto-oncogenes or tumor suppressors have been identified, the mutation of which cause amplification of signaling or loss of negative regulation resulting in over-proliferation and eventual tumor formation. Unlike normal cells, which tightly regulate extracellular ligand levels, receptor expression and secondary signaling molecules, cancer cells often lose the ability to regulate these signaling events. For example, overexpression of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) (Libermann et al., 1985), mutation of RAt Sarcoma (Ras) protein (Marshall, 1996) or the overexpression of PI3K (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase) (Sulis and Parsons, 2003) are thought to lead to cell transformation.
For the Rich It's Richer: Print Experiences and Environments Offered to Children in Very Low- and Very High-Socioeconomic Status First-Grade Classrooms

This study investigates whether there are differences in the print environments and experiences offered to children in 20 first-grade classrooms chosen from very low- and very high-socioeconomic status (SES) districts. Each classroom was visited for 4 full days over the course of a school year. On each visit, information was recorded about the classroom library, classroom environmental print, and any activity during the school day that involved print in any way. Data indicate that there are substantial differences between the low- and high-SES classrooms in all major areas examined, including the amount, type, and uses of print. Literacy can be added to the list of domains for which meaningful differences in instruction have been observed in schools serving different socioeconomic groups. Literacy is another domain through which schools may contribute to lower levels of achievement among low-SES children and may begin to do so quite early in the schooling process.
Effect of feeding ensiled maize grain on rumen development and calf rearing performance.

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of replacing barley grain or dry maize (50% by weight) in feed mixtures for calves with ensiled high-moisture maize grain on ruminal and postruminal digestibility of starch, rumen development parameters and rearing performance of calves. The experiment was carried out with 40 bull calves aged between 10±3 and 90 days divided into 4 groups of 10 animals per group. The main source of dietary starch was barley in the control group (B), dry maize grain in group MD, 50% barley and 50% ensiled maize grain in group BMS, and 50% dry maize grain and 50% ensiled maize grain in group MDMS. The results obtained show that rolled ensiled maize grain can be successfully used in diets for calves reared from 10 to 90 days of age to replace (50% by weight) dry rolled barley or maize grain. However, slightly better production results were obtained when feeding a barley and ensiled maize grain diet, which is probably due to the better intestinal digestibility of protein and starch, as shown by higher intestinal digestibility coefficients of protein and starch as well as lower faecal starch losses. The addition of ensiled maize grain to the diets did not cause significant changes in rumen fermentation, although there was a slight increase in total VFA concentration and proportion of butyric acid, a reduction in pH of rumen fluid, and calves tended to have higher serum 196 ENSILED MAIZE GRAIN AFFECT CALF PERFORMANCE β-hydroxybutyric acid concentrations at 10 and 12 weeks of age. The replacement of dry grains with ensiled maize grain in the diets for calves did not have an unambiguously favourable effect on rumen papillae development while improving wall thickness of the ventral ruminal sac.
Strategic Alliance Success Factors: A Literature Review on Alliance Lifecycle

Objectives. The research aims to investigate how firms can achieve alliance success. In global markets, the alliance failure rate is very high. This study will try to understand why, facing with such a high failure rate, more and more firms decide to enter or form strategic alliances. It appears necessary to identify key factors and show how firms can successfully manage them in each phase of alliance lifecycle. Methodology. For this study, a qualitative approach was adopted, in order to explore and understand the research problem. The issues of alliance success factors is investigated through the analysis of the existing literature, focusing in particular on the last two decades. Findings. By reviewing several theoretical perspectives, we identified alliance success factors and showed what kind of relevance they have in each phase of alliance lifecycle. It was found that strategic alliances develop through three phases. Alliance success lies on successful management of key factors, involved in each phase. Research Limits. Research deals with the issues of alliance success factors at the level of a single alliance and not at the level of an alliance portfolio. Further research should extend the analysis perspective. Managerial Implications. Firms involved in a strategic alliance should consider several critical aspects. For the entire alliance lifecycle, they have to look for a high degree of fit with their own partners. Another important aspect is related to the risk of opportunistic behavior, which could be reduced through the choice of an appropriate governance form and the development of social capital.
Evolution of Labrador Sea–Baffin Bay: Plate or Plume Processes?

Breakup between Greenland and Canada resulted in oceanic spreading in the Labrador Sea and Baffin Bay. These ocean basins are connected through the Davis Strait, a bathymetric high comprising primarily continental lithosphere, and the focus of the West Greenland Tertiary volcanic province. It has been suggested that a mantle plume facilitated this breakup and generated the associated magmatism. Plume-driven breakup predicts that the earliest, most extensive rifting, magmatism and initial seafloor spreading starts in the same locality, where the postulated plume impinged. Observations from the Labrador Sea–Baffin Bay area do not accord with these predictions. Thus, the plume hypothesis is not confirmed at this locality unless major ad hoc variants are accepted. A model that fits the observations better involves a thick continental lithospheric keel of orogenic origin beneath the Davis Strait that blocked the northward-propagating Labrador Sea rift resulting in locally enhanced magmatism. The Davis Strait lithosphere was thicker and more resilient to rifting because the adjacent Paleoproterozoic Nagssugtoqidian and Torngat orogenic belts contain structures unfavourably orientated with respect to the extensional stress field at the time.RESUMELa cassure entre le Groenland et le Canada a entraine une expansion oceanique de la mer du Labrador et de la baie de Baffin. Ces bassins oceaniques sont relies par le detroit de Davis, un haut bathymetrique constitue principalement de lithosphere continentale et de la province volcanique tertiaire de l'ouest du Groenland. Il a ete suggere qu'un panache du manteau a facilite cette cassure et genere le magmatisme associe. L’hypothese d’une cassure produite par panache du manteau predit que la premiere distension oceanique, la plus importante, le magmatisme et l'expansion oceanique initial se produisent la ou le panache mantelique touche la croute continentale. Or les observations dans la region de la mer du Labrador–baie de Baffin ne correspondent pas a ces predictions. Et donc l'hypothese du panache ne fonctionne pas dans cette region a moins que des facteurs ad hoc determinants ne soient presents. Un modele qui correspond mieux aux observations presuppose la presence d’une epaisse quille lithospherique continentale d'origine orogenique sous le detroit de Davis qui aurait bloque l’expansion oceanique de la mer du Labrador vers le nord, ce qui aurait provoque une augmentation du magmatisme localement. La lithosphere du detroit de Davis etait plus epaisse et plus resistante a l’expansion oceanique parce que les bandes orogeniques paleoproterozoiques du Nagssugtoqidian et de Torngat renferment des structures defavorablement orientees par rapport au champ de contraintes d’extensions de l'epoque.
Cu-based metalorganic systems: an ab initio study of the electronic structure

Within a first principles framework, we study the electronic structure of the recently synthesized polymeric coordination compound Cu(II)-2,5-bis(pyrazol-1-yl)-1,4-dihydroxybenzene (CuCCP), which has been suggested to be a good realization of a Heisenberg spin-1/2 chain with antiferromagnetic coupling. By using a combination of classical with ab initio quantum mechanical methods, we design on the computer reliable modified structures of CuCCP aimed at studying effects of Cu–Cu coupling strength variations on this spin-1/2 system. For this purpose, we performed two types of modifications on CuCCP. In one case, we replaced H in the linker by (i) an electron donating group (NH2) and (ii) an electron withdrawing group (CN), while the other modification consisted of adding H2O and NH3 molecules in the structure which change the local coordination of the Cu(II) ions. With the Nth order muffin tin orbital (NMTO) downfolding method, we provide a quantitative analysis of the modified electronic structure and the nature of the Cu–Cu interaction paths in these new structures and discuss its implications for the underlying microscopic model.
IMPACT OF DENSITY OF BREEDING ON THE GROWTH AND SOME NUTRACEUTICAL PROPERTIES OF READY-TO-EAT LENTIL (Lens culinaris) SPROUTS

Nutritional and nutraceutical quality of sprouts is strongly affected by growth conditions. This study focused on determining the influence of breeding density on seed- ling growth, phenolics content and some antioxidant capacity of ready-to-eat lentil sprouts. Content of condensed tannins (ranging from 1.77 to 3.16 mg g -1 DM) and flavon- oids (ranging from 15.13 to 25.08 mg g -1 DM) increased with the increasing density of breeding. The contents of the p-hydroxybenzoic and ferulic acids, and (+) catechin de- creased with the increasing density of breeding in 3-days-old seedlings. Additionally, the level of quercetin was elevated at a higher degree in sprouts cultivated at density of 1.22 seeds per cm 2 and average 10.42 and 5.91 �� g g -1 DM for 3- and 4-days-old sprouts, respectively. Metal chelating ability was the highest for sprouts obtained at the lowest density: 92% and 86% for 3- and 4-days-old sprouts, respectively. Fresh mass yield and lipids preventing abilities were negatively affected by density of breeding. It can be con- cluded that density of breeding plays an important role in design of chemical composition and bioactivity of lentil sprouts.
Optimization of Radiation Characteristic of Time Modulated Circular Geometry Using DEWM

In this paper differential evolution with wavelet mutation (DEWM) is applied for the radiation pattern synthesis for circular geometry of antenna array. Two circular geometries have been considered namely; (a) time modulated half symmetric circular array (TMHSCAA) and (b) 9-ring time modulated concentric circular antenna array (TMCCAA). DEWM algorithm is applied to show the performance improvement for the optimal design of TMHSCAA and TMCCAA. While doing so various other stochastic algorithms like real coded genetic algorithm (RGA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), and differential evolution (DE) are also used for the sake of comparison to establish the superiority of DEWM. For TMHSCAA, elements are symmetrical around to the vertical axis, so the number of parameters to be optimized is reduced, with two control parameters like switching excitation phase of each element. For TMCCAA, two proportional case studies as Case-1 and Case-2 are carried out with different variable parameters. The simulation outcomes show the supremacy of DEWM to be a plausible claimant for scheming the best TMHSCAA and TMCCAA. The simulation tests have also been performed with 20- and 36- element TMHSCAA and 9 rings TMCCAA.
Intermittent Turbulence and Oscillations in the Stable Boundary Layer over Land. Part I: A Bulk Model

In the stable boundary layer (SBL) it is observed often that turbulence is not continuous in space and time. This discontinuous, intermittent turbulence causes alternations from the mean evolution of the stratified atmospheric boundary layer, which may result in an oscillatory type of behavior of the near-surface wind speed and temperature. It is well known that intermittent turbulence in the SBL can be generated by various mechanisms. This paper focuses on an intermittency generating mechanism that arises from a direct interaction of the lower atmosphere (first tens of meters) with the vegetation surface, without interaction with the air aloft. It is shown that the essence of this mechanism can be captured by a 1D bulk model of three coupled nonlinear differential equations. In the present paper, numerical runs with the model show that intermittent turbulence is most likely to occur over land surfaces with low vegetation during clear-sky conditions in the presence of a moderate to low synoptical pressure gradient. The existence of a vegetation layer has a strong influence on intermittency dynamics. Due to its small heat capacity, the vegetation temperature is able to quickly respond to rapidly changing conditions. This in turn affects the stability of the lower atmosphere, causing an important feedback mechanism. In addition, it was found that intermittent behavior of SBL models occurs for various first-order closure schemes with different stability functions. However, stability functions that allow turbulent transport beyond the critical Richardson number effectively suppress intermittent‐oscillatory behavior. Currently, the latter type of formulations is often used in numerical weather prediction to prevent excessive SBL cooling in very stable conditions. The advantage of using a simplified SBL model, as proposed in the present paper, is that it allows an analytical study of the system, which, in turn, allows theoretical predictions about the occurrence of intermittent SBL behavior (see the companion paper).
Crossover of burnout: An experimental design

Two studies tested the hypothesis that burnout may cross over from one person to another. In Study 1, teachers were randomly exposed to a bogus newspaper article in which a colleague expressed himself negatively about his work (burnout condition), or about a topic unrelated to work (control condition). The results showed that participants' burnout (exhaustion and depersonalization) was higher in the burnout condition compared to the control condition. In Study 2, soldiers were randomly exposed to a videotape of a burned-out or an engaged colleague who was either similar in profession and status (soldier), or who had a considerably higher status (squadron leader). The results were partly consistent with those of Study 1, and confirmed the crossover of burnout (cynicism and reduced professional efficacy). In line with predictions, a significant interaction effect for cynicism revealed that the crossover of burnout is moderated by similarity with the stimulus person.