Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Kritinio mąstymo sampratos interpretacijos

Kritinis mąstymas yra laikomas vienu svarbiausių gebėjimų, sąlygojancių asmens ir visos visuomenės gerove. Kritinio mąstymo gebėjimų svarba pažymima Europos ir Lietuvos strateginiuose dokumentuose. Kritinis mąstymas laikytinas esmine kompetencija, kuri būtina pilieciams dalyvaujant kasdieniame gyvenime ir visuomenėje ir įgalina darbuotojus daryti sprendimus ir imtis veiklos; jis tampa vienu esminių bruožų, kurio darbdaviai tikisi is būsimų darbuotojų. Mokslininkai nuolat kelia klausimą, kas yra kritinis mąstymas (Lloyd, Bahr, 2010), kokius konkrecius kritinio mąstymo gebėjimus ugdyti ir kaip, kad jie būtų pritaikomi praktikoje ir isliktų tvarūs, ar egzistuojantys vertinimo instrumentai yra pakankami (Facione, Facione, 2013; Lai, 2011). Egzistuojanti kritinio mąstymo sampratų įvairovė suponuoja diskusijas apie tai, kokie gebėjimai būdingi kritiskai mąstanciam žmogui. Sio straipsnio tikslas – isanalizuoti kritinio mąstymo sampratą remiantis multidisciplininiais kritinio mąstymo tyrimais. Tiriant kritinio mąstymo konceptą, susijusį su multidiscipliniais kritinio mąstymo tyrimais Lietuvoje ir užsienyje, pasitelkta kritinė diskurso analizė. Pasirinkta tyrimo strategija padeda suprasti kritinio mąstymo sampratą, analizuoti sį reiskinį skirtingų disciplinų kontekste. Tyrimui atlikti naudota mokslinės literatūros analizė ir teorinė metanalizė. Atliktas tyrimas atskleidė, jog kritinio mąstymo sampratos aiskinime isryskėja kognityvinė ir nekognityvinė dimensija. Kritinis mąstymas įvardijamas kaip pažintinis ir refleksyvus mąstymo procesas, apimantis kognityvinių gebėjimų ir dispozicijų komponentus, įgalinancius identifikuoti, analizuoti, pagrįsti sprendimus ir argumentus, daryti sprendimus, ir pristatyti svarstomas problemas. Analizuojant kritinio mąstymo sampratos interpretacijas, svarbu identifikuoti, kokie kritinio mąstymo sampratos elementai ir kritinio mąstymo rezultatai pabrėžiami skirtingose mokslo sakose ar skirtingose profesinės veiklos srityse. Tyrimu nustatyta, kad kritinio mąstymo gebėjimai nėra siejami su konkrecia mokslo sritimi, visose analizuotose mokslo srityse ypac pabrėžiami gebėjimai, orientuoti į problemos sprendimo procesą skirtinguose profesiniuose laukuose.
In-Situ Formation of Silver Nanoparticles with Tunable Spatial Distribution at the Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Corona of Unimolecular Micelles

Highly stable hybrid unimolecular micelles with thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) shells incorporated with Ag nanoparticles were prepared in situ via a facile approach. Heating the hybrid unimolecular micellar solutions leads to the shrinkage of the PNIPAM shell and allows for tuning the relative spatial distances between neighboring Ag nanoparticles. Because of the anchoring and stabilization of PNIPAM brush to the Ag nanoparticles, the tuning of spatial distribution of nanoparticles within the unimolecular micelles is completely reversible with heating/cooling cycles. The facile preparation procedures and their efficiency of response to the surrounding media render these novel hybrid unimolecular micelles potential candidates for applications in sensors, catalysis, and optic/electronic devices.
Can oxidation states and the protonation pattern of oxomanganese complexes be recognized from their structures

Multi-core oxomanganese complexes can adopt different oxidation states and protonation patterns depending on ligands and external conditions (for example, solvent, pH, and redox potential). An archetypical example of such complexes is the Mn4Ca cluster in the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) of photosystem II (PSII). Despite the recent high-resolution crystal structure of PSII, some uncertainty about the oxidation state of the Mn centers and the protonation pattern of the oxygen atoms bridging the metals still exists. In this work, we construct a quantum-chemically based tool to “recognize” the oxidation state and the protonation pattern of oxomanganese complexes from their experimental structure. Combined with simple structural information, our tool can be employed as an empirical guideline to recognize the oxidation state and/or the protonation pattern of those oxomanganese complexes for which this information is not experimentally available.
Quantum chemical studies of a model for peptide bond formation: formation of formamide and water from ammonia and formic acid

The S/sub N/2 reaction between ammonia and formic acid has been studied as a model reaction for peptide bond formation using the semiempirical MNDO and ab initio molecular orbital methods. Two reaction mechanisms have been examined, i.e., a stepwise and a concerted reaction. The stationary points of each reaction including intermediate and transition states have been identified and free energies have been calculated for all geometry optimized reaction species to determine the thermodynamics and kinetics of each reaction. The stepwise mechanism was found to be more favorable than the concerted one by both MNDO and ab initio calculations. However, the ab initio method predicts both mechanisms to be fairly competitive with free energies of activation of about 50 kcal/mol. Despite excellent agreement between both methods in the calculated entropies and thermal energies, the minimum basis set character of MNDO leads to values of free energy of activation much higher than those obtained by the ab initio method. The basis set dependence and effect of correlation of the computed ab initio results and the relative effects of polarization and correlation were also investigated by using a number of basis sets up to 6-31G** and estimates of correlation energy by Moller-Plesset perturbationmore » theory up to fourth order. Correlation energy was found to ba a significant factor in the stabilization of transition states. « less
Preparation of Nano-Copper Oxide and Removal of Hydrogen Sulfide under Room Temperature

In this paper, nanocopper oxide is prepared by complexing-precipitate, and the influence of different process parameters on the removal of H2S performance are studied, and make a comparison for two other methods. The results indicate that different complexing agent, the molar ratio of Cu2+/OH- and calcination temperature, etc., effect the desulfurization activity of nanocopper oxide. nanocopper prepared under optimum conditions (the complexing agent is ammonia, the molar ratio of Cu2+/OH- is 1:3.0, calcination temperature is 400 °C) exhibits best desulfurization activity with a H2S breakthrough time of 235 min, this is much longer than that prepared by hydrothermal method and sol-gel method with breakthrough time of H2S only 20 min and 50 min, respectively; XRD analysis shows that the big grain size of nanocopper oxide and low purity are not in favor of H2S adsorption at room temperature.
Efeito dos níveis de cálcio sobre a absorção de minerais em dietas iniciais para frangos de corte suplementadas com fitase

Aiming to evaluate the effect of levels of calcium in the diet on the uptake of minerals in broiler chicks from 1 to 21 days of age fed rations containing low phosphorus and phytase contents, an experiment was conducted with 600 one-day chicks of the HubbardMPK line, distributed into a completely randomized design, in factorial arrangement 5 x 2 (levels of calcium of the diet x sex), with 3 replicates of 20 birds per experimental portion. The basal ration was balanced to meet the nutrient requirements of the birds according to NRC (1994), except for calcium, whose levels were 0.46; 0.67; 0.88; 1.09 and 1.30%. Seven days before the end of the experiment, two birds from each plot were transferred to metabolism cages for total collection of the excreta. The uptake of calcium and manganese was reduced (P <0.01) as the level of calcium of the ration was increased. The males absorbed more phosphorus (P <0.05) than the females while the level 0.80 and 0.88% of calcium in the ration enabled the greatest uptake of zinc and phosphorus, respectively. It follows that chickens submitted to the ration with low content of total phosphorus and phytase in the phase from 1 to 21 days of age, the ris e of calcium content reduces the uptake of calcium, phosphorus, zinc and manganese.
Aggregation Behavior in Water of Monomeric and Gemini Cationic Surfactants Derived from Arginine

A new class of gemini surfactants, bis(Args) (Cn(LA)2, where n = 3, 6, and 9), has been synthesized. Their solution and tension behaviors were studied and compared to those of the corresponding monomeric surfactant, LAM (Nα-lauroylarginine methyl ester) and of a common cationic surfactant, CPC (cetylpyridinium chloride). Bis(Args) are made up of two symmetrical long chain Nα-acyl-l-arginine residues of 12 carbon atoms linked by amide covalent bonds to an α,ω-alkylidenediamine spacer chain of varying length (n). By being produced from amino acid sources (arginine), these surfactants are biocompatible and less toxic to the environment. The solution behavior is also important for potential applications in foaming, agrichemical spreading aids, and cleaning processes, and in understanding the interfacial behavior. Strong evidence of two cmc's with different characters of aggregates was obtained from different techniques for the gemini surfactants but not for the monomeric surfactants. Surface tensiometry indic.
An Imaging-Based Human Embryonic Stem Cell Assay for Teratogenic Activity

Author(s): Perea, Brian | Advisor(s): Clark, Douglas; Schaffer, David | Abstract: In this work a human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) assay was proposed as a novel imaging-based screen for identifying substances (teratogens) likely to cause birth defects in humans. The assay was engineered to leverage lessons from the validated mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Test (EST). An automated fluid handler was repurposed to support printing stem cells and biological materials to an innovative two-part microculture platform, the pillar/well chip system. Key milestones were met, demonstrating the applicability of the microculture platform to hPSC cultures over the duration of the proposed assay. Three proof-of-principle experimental data sets were acquired using statistical experimental design to eliminate confounding systematic variation and uncontrolled variables. Changes in cell population and expression of four protein biomarkers were observed with automated fluorescence microscopy and quantified by image analysis. Toxic molecules were found to show similar inhibition of viability to literature values. Further work is needed to optimize quantification and reduce variability in these signals to assess the effects of candidate teratogens on cell differentiation.
Photo-Cross-Linkable PNIPAAm Copolymers. 4. Effects of Copolymerization and Cross-Linking on the Volume-Phase Transition in Constrained Hydrogel Layers

Photo-cross-linkable temperature and pH-responsive polymers based on N-isopropylacrylamide and 2-(dimethylmaleimido)-N-ethyl-acrylamide were synthesized and spin-coated to produce uniform thin films of cross-linked, responsive hydrogels. Surface plasmon resonance and optical waveguide spectroscopy were used to determine the effect on the volume-phase transition when these materials are confined to a thin film. The film thicknesses ranged from 10 nm to 2.5 μm, and the volume-phase transition temperature and swelling ratio of the films fell into two overlapping regimes separated by at least one critical thickness. In the thick-film regime, greater than 100−760 nm, depending on the cross-linking density, ionizable comonomer concentration, and reference state, the films exhibited two transition temperatures. This can be explained by the stress imposed on the hydrogel as it swells perpendicular to the substrate. In the thin-film regime, less than 270−440 nm, depending on cross-linking density, the presence of .
Measurements of Line Tension for Solid−Liquid−Vapor Systems Using Drop Size Dependence of Contact Angles and Its Correlation with Solid−Liquid Interfacial Tension

According to the modified Young equation, one of the direct ways of measuring line tension for solid−liquid−vapor systems takes advantage of the dependence of the contact angle on the radius of curvature of the three-phase line. This approach was used to determine line tension measurements for six organic liquids on two different self-assembled monolayer (SAM) surfaces (mixed monolayers of methyl and carboxylic acid terminated alkanethiol on gold at two different composition levels). Low-rate advancing contact angles were measured using Axisymmetric Drop Shape Analysis-Profile (ADSA-P). The general trend observed for each system was that the contact angle decreases as the radius of the three-phase line for the sessile drop increases from approximately 1 to 5 mm. It was found that the drop size dependence of contact angles can be interpreted as being due to a positive line tension. The line tension values are all in the order of 10-6 J/m. Also a correlation was observed between the line tension and the sol.
Effects of Rotational Isomerism and Bond Length Alternation on Optical Spectra of FTC Chromophore in Solution

Rotational isomerism effects on the optical spectra of a push-pull nonlinear optical chromophore 2-dicyanomethylen-3-cyano-4-{2-[E-(4-N,N-di(2-acetoxyethyl)-amino)-phenylene-(3,4-dibutyl)-thien-5]-E-vinyl}-5,5-dimethyl-2,5-dihydrofuran (FTC) in a few solvents have been studied using the time-dependent density functional theory in combination with the polarizable continuum model. It is shown that the maximum absorption peaks of the rotamers have difference of nearly 30 nm both in vacuum and in solutions. The population of the rotamers changes a lot in different solvents. Based on the geometries optimized by Hartree-Fock method, the Maxwell-Boltzmann averaged absorption has been calculated and the maximum absorption peak is in good agreement with experiment. It indicates that the bond length alternation can have an important effect on the optical spectra.
Influence of Thiol Coupling on Photoluminescence of Near Surface InAs Quantum Dots

Photoluminescence (PL) of near surface InAs quantum dots (QDs) has been studied as a function of the distance to the surface (30, 20, 10, 6 nm). We observe a strong decrease in the QD PL intensity with decreasing barrier thickness. Nevertheless, the QDs still show reasonably strong PL intensity even when they are only 10 nm beneath the surface. After the deposition of self-assembled monolayers of octadecylthiol, we observe an increase in PL intensity up to a factor of 1.87. Such an enhancement is attributed to a decrease in the density of surface states. This demonstrates that near surface InAs QDs are very sensitive to changes of the surface conditions and the deposition of octadecylthiol monolayer may be used to increase their sensitivity, which is promising toward future bio-sensor applications.
20-O-IngenolEZ, a catalytic topoisomerase II inhibitor, specifically inhibits cell proliferation and induces double-strand DNA breaks in BLM-/-cells

Bis-dioxopiperazines have been termed catalytic inhibitors to distinguish them from topoisomerase poisons that induce DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). However, it has been reported that ICRF-193 acts as a poison in cells containing mutated genes related to checkpoint mechanisms. We also showed previously that 20-O-ingenolEZ acts as a catalytic inhibitor to inhibit the ATPase activity of topoisomerase IIα, inducing the G2 arrest of mouse mammary tumor (MMT) cells. In this study, we observed the effects of 20-O-ingenolEZ on cells containing a mutation in the RecQ helicase gene. 20-O-IngenolEZ completely inhibited the proliferation of BLM-/-cells in BLM-/- and WRN-/-DT40 cells and wild-type DT40 cells. This inhibition induced the phosphorylation of H2AX in response to agents that introduce topoisomerase II-mediated DSBs. Following DNA damage, the induction of apoptosis in the BLM-/-cells by 20-O-ingenolEZ showed the characteristics of a topoisomerase II poison.
STOCK MARKET PRICE PREDICTION USING LONG-SHORT TERM MEMORY (LSTM)

Stock index prices predicting is a tough task and, because of various reasons relating to many technological and non-tech reasons, share price knowledge is an extremely difficult, unpredictable and dynamic environment. In parallel to deep learning techniques, a variety of academic experiments from different disciplines to resolve this topic and machine learning techniques are one of the many technologies used. Many machine learning techniques in this field were able to produce acceptable outcomes while it was used in this type of predictions. This paper studies stock market price prediction using LSTM model which is applied on Stock index prices historical data along with indications analysis which will be used to achieve more accurate results. In this study, data sets of historical prices of common stock of Agilent Technology, and American Airlines Group Common Stock were gathered to achieve this objective, and several tests were carried out using LSTM, the findings were evaluated using RMSE and RMSPE values that guarantee better performance for the LSTM method used.
Enhanced Interfacial Charge Transfer and Visible Photocatalytic Activity for Hydrogen Evolution from a Ta2O5‐based Mesoporous Composite by the Incorporation of Quantum‐Sized CdS

The development of high‐performance visible‐light‐driven photocatalysts is attractive for the simultaneous achievement of sustainable hydrogen production and waste‐water treatment in an economical and large‐scale manner. An ordered mesoporous composite of quantum‐sized CdS (q‐CdS)/Ta2O5 with enhanced interfacial charge transfer was prepared by evaporation‐induced self‐assembly in the presence of a triblock‐copolymer surfactant followed by ion‐exchange treatment. The incorporation of cubic CdS into an amorphous Ta2O5 framework effectively extended its spectroscopic response from the ultraviolet into the visible region. The quantum‐confinement effect of CdS nanoparticles (3–4 nm) afforded an increased potential gradient between q‐CdS and Ta2O5, thereby accelerating the transfer of photogenerated electrons from q‐CdS to Ta2O5 and suppressing the recombination of charge carriers. Owing to this increased potential gradient and the large specific surface area, as well as the strong adsorption capability towards methylene blue (MB), the as‐prepared ordered mesoporous photocatalyst exhibited significantly enhanced visible‐light‐driven photocatalytic activity and long‐term stability for hydrogen evolution from simulant waste water that contained MB in the absence of any co‐catalysts. These results may have applications in the sustainable production of hydrogen energy and in environmental remediation.
Fate of Summertime Airborne Organophosphate Pesticide Residues in the Sierra Nevada Mountains

This study examines the processes of dilution, degradation, and sorption to plant foliage of organophosphate (OP) pesticides during the summertime in an air corridor originating in the southern Central Valley of California and moving into the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains. Residues of chlorpyrifos, methidathion, and their oxons were examined in air and pine needles at three sites in the southern Sierra to delineate the role these processes play in the atmospheric fate of these residues. At the site closest to the Central Valley, we found relatively high levels of parent OPs and oxons in needle and air samples. At higher elevations needles contained lesser amounts of OP residues and at lower frequency, while air primarily contained the oxon form. With increasing elevation the ratio of thion to oxon form of chlorpyrifos in air decreased from 1.85 to 0.46 indicating that atmospheric oxidation was occuring. Based on the amounts of foliar deposition found, we estimate that during summer months nearly 16 kg of chlorpyrifos and its oxon may enter Sequoia National Park plant foliage. We deduce that for airborne OP insecticides, foliar deposition is a significant summertime fate process, along with atmospheric degradation and dilution.
Life‐cycle greenhouse gas effects of introducing nano‐crystalline materials in thin‐film silicon solar cells

Solar PV is widely considered as a “green” technology. This paper, however, investigates the environmental impact of the production of solar modules made from thin‐film silicon. We focus on novel applications of nano‐crystalline Silicon materials (nc‐Si) into current amorphous Silicon (a‐Si) devices. Two nc‐Si specific details concerning the environmental performance can be identified, when we want to compare to a‐Si modules. First, in how far the extra (and thicker) silicon layer (s) affects upstream material requirements and energy use. Second, in how far depositing an extra silicon layer may increase emissions of greenhouse gases as additional emissions of Fluor gases (F‐gases) are associated to this step. The much larger global warming potential of F‐gases (17 200–22 800 times that of CO2) may lead to higher environmental burdens. To date, no study has yet analyzed the effect of F‐gas usage on the environmental profile of thin‐film silicon solar modules. We performed a life‐cycle assessment (LCA) to investigate the current environmental usefulness of pursuing this novel micromorph concept. The switch to the new micromorph technology will result in a 60–85% increase in greenhouse gas emissions (per generated kWh solar electricity) in case of NF3 based clean processing, and 15–100% when SF6 is used. We conclude that F‐gas usage has a substantial environmental impact on both module types, in particular the micromorph one. Also, micromorph module efficiencies need to be improved from the current 8–9% (stabilized efficiency) toward 12–16% (stab. eff.) in order to compensate for the increased environmental impacts. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A new type of transparent and low cost counter-electrode based on platinum nanoparticles for dye-sensitized solar cells

Here we report on the fabrication of a new low-cost transparent cathode based on platinum nanoparticles prepared by a bottom-up synthetic approach. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images showed the platinum nanoparticles homogeneously distributed on a fluorine doped tin oxide conductive glass surface. We demonstrated that, with such a type of cathode, the solar energy conversion efficiency is the same as that obtained with a platinum sputtered counter-electrode, and is more than 50% greater than that obtained with a standard electrode, i.e. one prepared by chlorine platinum acid thermal decomposition, in similar working conditions. Using a special back-reflecting layer of silver, we improved upon the performance of a counter-electrode based on platinum sputtering, achieving an overall solar conversion efficiency of 4.75% at 100 mW cm−2 (AM 1.5) of simulated sunlight.
Corporate Reputation in the Online Universe based on Social Media Content Analysis

The current paper is a part of a master dissertation carried out at the Open University of Cyprus. Starting from an individual to a multinational corporation level we are looking to find, understand and define the purpose, the need and the impact of managing the impressions made. We argue that strategies may vary regarding the type of business. We suggest that anybody has an opinion as soon as they identify the brand. This opinion is disseminated and collectively can be seen as reputation. The progress in communication is implying bigger social influence between the people, trends are changing fast. We are presenting different tools to find these insights, which perform Online Reputation Management (ORM), free, paid or open source. Using theory from social science and technological facts, we discuss possible caveats. Finally we aim to use python scripts in order to collect, preprocess and analyze real data to see it in practice through the prism of a real business entity.