Conceptual Representation Research Articles

The Effect of Human Presence on the Representations of Children 4-6 Years Old in the Case of Air Within Vases

A distinctive direction within the framework of Early Childhood Science Education research is the study of young children's mental representations of natural world phenomena and concepts in science. The study of representations offers the possibility of developing activities that address the real difficulties of children and lead to the construction of new representations compatible with school science knowledge. The current research presents a study on the potential effect of the presence of humans on the representations of children aged 4-6 years regarding the case of air within vases. 41 children attending a kindergarten in Patras (Greece) participated in the study. During individual semi-structured interviews, children were presented with 3 different images displaying a vase with people standing next to it in different settings and were asked to indicate whether there is air in the vase and whether this is related to that people. The results showed that the presence of air in the containers was best identified in the outdoor environment, while few children attributed the air to human presence, especially when the vases were placed indoors. Based on the frequency table, it seems that regarding the outdoor environment, there are more adequate responses, as the presence of human elements influences less the participants, while in indoor settings there are more intermediate and inadequate responses, suggesting that the presence of the human element has a greater impact in participant's responses.

DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHING MATERIALS TO SUPPORT THE MERDEKA CURRICULUM IN REDOX REACTIONS AND ELECTROCHEMISTRY FOR PHASE F SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

AbstractThe research aims to evaluate the development of teaching materials that incorporate multiple representations of chemical concepts, specifically on the topic of redox and electrochemistry, to support the Merdeka Curriculum and enhance student’s mental models in Phase F of senior high school. Educational Design Research (EDR) was the chosen methodology and the study involved three university chemistry lecturers, two chemistry teachers, and nine students. Data collection was carried out using validity and practicality questionnaires. The results revealed that the average construct validity score of 0.87 and the average content validity score of 0,86 classified the materials as valid. Furthermore, the practicality assessment showed that this teaching material received a high practicality score, with a score of 97% from teachers and 92% from students indicating ease of application in learning. In conclusion, the teaching materials developed for redox and electrochemistry lessons, incorporating multiple chemical representations, were proven to be both valid and highly practical, supporting the goals of the Merdeka Curriculum in fostering deeper student understanding.

Representation of Religiously Marked Allusion as a Literary Concept in the English Literary Text

The article examines the literary concept, its characteristics and the embodiment of the peculiar features of literary concepts in religiously marked allusions in the literary text. In particular, the author clarifies the theoretical foundations of the literary concept, which is of huge importance in cognitive linguistics, text linguistics and literary studies and is at target of many scientific researches. The aim of the research is to justify that literary concept as a complex mental unit embraces a set of specificities all of which are transmitted to the semantic construct of religiously marked allusion - the verbal explication of literary concept in the literary text. The topicality and novelty of the research lies in the fact that the author scrutinizes the notion of concept from the perspectives of cognitive and literary approaches, generalizing all of the peculiarities of literary concept based on the review of the prior linguistic investigations. In addition, the author studies religiously marked allusions as the linguistic units that externalize literary concepts in the literary text, and assures that these linguistic units manifest all of the features inherent in the literary concept. To reach the research aim, the representation of literary concepts via religiously marked allusions is investigated on the basis of the analysis of a literary text. In the process of analysis, the researcher widely uses the method of conceptual analysis. According to the results of the analysis, religiously marked allusions representing literary concepts explicate the author’s individual conceptual world picture and his/her modality in the literary text.

AI-Powered VR for Enhanced Learning Compared to Traditional Methods

This paper evaluates a VR (Virtual Reality) application aimed at enhancing the learning of Python collection data types and structures for electrical and electronic engineering students. By incorporating gamification and personalisation features, the application provides an immersive environment where students can interact with virtual representations of complex programming concepts. To further enhance interactivity and engagement, the application integrates a virtual assistant and example generator, developed using Meta Voice SDK (Software Development Kit) and wit.ai. These AI (Artificial Intelligence)-NLP (Natural Language Processing) tools create personalised learning paths and generate dynamic examples based on individual learning progress. A user study was conducted with a total of 48 participants. During the user study, participants were divided into two equal groups of 24, both wearing EEG (Electroencephalography) headsets: one group engaged with the VR application, while the other read the traditional booklet, allowing for the recording and analysis of attention and engagement levels. These measures of engagement and attention were then compared to those extracted from a benchmark cohort of students whose learning experience was through more traditional booklets. The results indicated a statistically significant improvement in understanding Python collections among VR users compared to their baseline scores, highlighting the benefits of interactive and tailored learning environments. Additionally, EEG data analysis showed that VR users exhibited higher average levels of attention and engagement compared to those using the paper-based method, demonstrating the effectiveness of immersive technologies in sustaining learner interest and focus, particularly in enhancing learning for software development.

Development of Teaching Materials to Support Merdeka Curriculum Learning on Salt Hydrolysis for Phase F Senior High School

This aims of this research is to develop teaching materials that incorporate multiple representations of chemistry concepts, especially on the salt hydrolysis topic, to support the Merdeka Curriculum and improve students' mental models in the F phase of high school. Educational Research Development (EDR) is the method chosen, using Plomp’s development model. The subject are three UNP chemistry lecturers, two chemistry teachers and nine SMAN 8 Padang students. The developed teaching material have been validated with a construct validity value of 0.89 which is classified as valid and. Then it has also been tested for practicality with a score of 96% from teachers and 94% from students, this shows that the development teaching materials are very practical, which indicates their ease of use and application in an educational environment. It concludes, that the developed teaching materials are for the topic of salt hydrolysis, which incorporate a comprehensive range of chemical representations proven to be valid and highly practical can effectively assist students in building mental models and improving their understanding of chemical concepts and support the goals of the Merdeka Curriculum in fostering deeper student understanding.

Augmenting Adherence: Improving Medication Compliance and Patient Education in Anti-Retroviral Therapy through Graphical Representation.

Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) is a fundamental principle in the management of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, significantly improving the quality of life for individuals living with the virus. However, the success of ART crucially depends on patient adherence to complex medication regimens that come with the therapy. Patients must meticulously adhere to their prescribed treatment plans to maintain viral suppression and prevent the progression of HIV. Medication adherence, a multifaceted challenge in healthcare, becomes particularly entangled within the realm of ART. Patients are often prescribed a combination of antiretroviral medications, each with unique dosing schedules and dietary requirements as instructed by the physician. For individuals with varying levels of health literacy, language proficiency, and cultural backgrounds, comprehending and adhering to these regimens can be overwhelming and challenging. Non-adherence to these medications can result in treatment failure, drug resistance, and compromised health outcomes that burden the healthcare systems. In that perspective, the role of pictograms as visual aids emerges as part and parcel of patient education and counseling within healthcare systems. Pictograms are graphical representations of concepts or actions designed to transcend linguistic and literacy barriers. When used in conjunction with ART, they simplify complex medication instructions, empower patients with knowledge, and improve adherence. Generally, the role of pictograms in supporting medication adherence and patient counseling in antiretroviral therapy is a powerful testament that serves a purpose in bridging communication and literacy gaps within the healthcare systems. By simplifying complex medication regimens, empowering patients with knowledge, and fostering adherence, pictograms contribute to better health outcomes and the overall success of ART. As healthcare providers and systems continue to harness the potential of pictograms, patient education and adherence in the management of HIV and other chronic conditions stand to be greatly enhanced.

Interoperable information modelling leveraging asset administration shell and large language model for quality control toward zero defect manufacturing

In the era of Industry 4.0, Zero Defect Manufacturing (ZDM) has emerged as a prominent strategy for quality improvement, emphasizing data-driven approaches for defect prediction, prevention, and mitigation. The success of ZDM heavily depends on the availability and quality of data typically collected from diverse and heterogeneous sources during production and quality control, presenting challenges in data interoperability. Addressing this, we introduce a novel approach leveraging Asset Administration Shell (AAS) and Large Language Models (LLMs) for creating interoperable information models that incorporate semantic contextual information to enhance the interoperability of data integration in the quality control process. AAS, initiated by German industry stakeholders, shows a significant advancement in information modeling, blending ontology and digital twin concepts for the virtual representation of assets. In this work, we develop a systematic, use-case-driven methodology for AAS-based information modeling. This methodology guides the design and implementation of AAS models, ensuring model properties are presented in a unified structure and reference external standardized vocabularies to maintain consistency across different systems. To automate this referencing process, we propose a novel LLM-based algorithm to semantically search model properties within a standardized vocabulary repository. This algorithm significantly reduces manual intervention in model development. A case study in the injection molding domain demonstrates the practical application of our approach, showcasing the integration and linking of product quality and machine process data with the help of the developed AAS models. Statistical evaluation of our LLM-based semantic search algorithm confirms its efficacy in enhancing data interoperability. This methodology offers a scalable and adaptable solution for various industrial use cases, promoting widespread data interoperability in the context of Industry 4.0.

Manipulative interactive didactics with puzzles: An effective solution for overcoming junior high school students' learning obstacles to quadrilateral materials

The study of learning obstacles is essential to develop students' competencies and improve the quality of learning that is responsive, inclusive, and relevant in the 21st century. The purpose of this study is to identify learning obstacles related to misconceptions regarding quadrilateral material and students' mathematical creativity, and to find effective empirical didactic designs to overcome these learning obstacles. The research methodology used is didactic design research (DDR), which consists of four frameworks: Initial data collection, prospective analysis, metapedidactic analysis, and retrospective analysis. These stages are cyclical. The study involved 172 junior high school students and six model teachers. Data was collected using the quadrilateral writing creativity test, interviews, documents, and field notes. Data analysis was conducted simultaneously using quantitative and qualitative approaches. The study produced empirical didactic designs, namely manipulative interactive didactics with puzzles, which are equipped with a guide for teachers to manage learning. This empirical didactic design includes seven frameworks that have been shown to be effective in overcoming didactic and epistemological barriers—scaffolding, questioning skills, brainstorming, learning opportunities, conceptual representation of mathematical creativity, misconceptions, and concept representation. Teachers can implement or adapt this empirical instructional design for use in geometry subtopics or other mathematics materials. For instance, they can use it for subtopics such as flat shapes with the same area, spaces with the same volume, or spaces with the same surface area.

Linguistic markedness and body specificity in parity judgments: evidence from a go/no-go task.

In two experiments we tested the contribution of linguistic markedness and affective evaluation (i.e., body specificity) to the representation of abstract numerical concepts, such as parity. To this end, we employed speeded parity judgments of digits (Exp 1) or number words (Exp 2) in a go/no-go task. Fifty right-handed participants completed four blocks of trials in each experiment. In two blocks, they responded to even numbers (2, 4, 6, or 8) and in the other two blocks they responded to odd numbers (1, 3, 7, or 9). In each pair of blocks, they responded once with their right hand and once with their left hand. Results revealed faster right-hand responses to even than to odd digits (Exp 1), and faster left-hand response to odd than to even number words (Exp 2). In addition, in both experiments, we found faster responses to small-odd than large-odd digits and number words. The results support the conclusion that the affective evaluation of parity and linguistic markedness makes independent contributions to the representation of parity.

Forming of modern Russian youth’s social representations about maintaining health: condition and problems

The article deals with the study of health maintaining among Russian youth. Based on data from all-Russian surveys and presented in relevant studies, the contradictions between the value perception of health and destructive health practices among young people were found. In this regard, based on the understanding of health conservation as a purposeful activity, in the structure of which the cognitive component plays a significant role, the author underlines to study young people’s ideas about health and health caring in order to realise the reasons of differences between the state of health and the attitude of Russian youth. In this regard, the author conducted a study of the structure of social ideas of young Russians. The theoretical basis of the study was the key provisions of the concept of social representations by S. Moscovici. The empirical basis was the data of the author’s empirical study “Health Saving of Modern Russian Youth: Ideas and Practices”. Based on the results of the study, it was established that the core of modern youth’s social ideas about health conservation are traditional images and ideas that reflect the most characteristic of Russian society and its health conservation culture, but in a limited format. The peripheral zone includes components such as breaking bad habits, well-being, and maintaining emotional stability. The least characteristic of young Russians is the connection between ideas about health and health preservation with institutional practices of clinical examination and preventive examinations, which suggests a decrease in the role of the medical institute as an agent of social control in relation to health in the ideas of the younger generation. Thus, the social ideas of young Russians about health and the practices of its preservation, along with traditional ideas, are distinguished by features, the formation of which, according to the author, is due to the influence of new agents of healthy lifestyle socialization and the online-sources

Metaphorical Mirrors: Aesthetic Reflections from Plato to Nietzsche (and Beyond)

AbstractThis article weaves together three main strands: first, the ambiguities of mirror metaphors in relation to concepts of artistic representation and expression; secondly, the double-sided and sometimes paradoxical influence of Plato in this area of aesthetics; thirdly, the need to interpret long-lasting metaphors in the history of ideas not as static figures of speech but as dynamic tropes which shift in sense and implications with changes of context. In constructing and exploring this thematic configuration of mirrors, metaphors, and Plato, the chief concern is to draw out—via a small selection of texts, including passages from Schopenhauer and Nietzsche—some underappreciated complexity in the various classical traditions that have contributed to aesthetics and philosophy of art.

Reducing interpretative ambiguity in an educational environment with ChatGPT

The study posits that both concrete and abstract words are crucial for effective communication, particularly in educational contexts where the interplay between these forms of language intersects with linguistic, cognitive, and social stratification theories. A key challenge is balancing the efficiency of abstract language in conveying complex concepts with the accessibility of concrete language, which enhances student comprehension. Generative languages, with their capacity to manipulate symbols, offer a way to navigate this challenge by facilitating the structured and systematic representation and exploration of abstract concepts within their contexts. The central research question was: “How can generative languages assist educational stakeholders in articulating their ideas and actions more clearly by identifying and refining abstract terms?” To explore this, a protocol in English was developed for ChatGPT-4, featuring structured guidelines and prompts aimed at helping users achieve specific educational goals. In a pilot study involving 13 participants, ChatGPT-4 provided feedback, suggested improvements, and guided users through text interactions. One of the authors observed the participants, took notes on their behavior, and conducted brief post-exercise discussions to gauge their experiences. After the session, participants were asked to reflect on their experience and share their thoughts via email. The process helped participants refine their responses from abstract to more concrete terms, enhancing clarity and engagement with educational content. The ChatGPT-4 protocol effectively bridges the gap between abstract pedagogical theories and practical classroom application, training teachers to use vivid descriptions, relatable scenarios, and tangible examples. This study illustrates how artificial intelligence can successfully integrate teaching principles and learning theories to enhance educational practices.

Computational Approaches to Concepts Representation: A Whirlwind Tour

Computational Approaches to Concepts Representation: A Whirlwind Tour

Individual representation in approval-based committee voting

AbstractWhen selecting multiple candidates based on approval preferences of voters, the proportional representation of voters’ opinions is an important and well-studied desideratum. Existing criteria for evaluating the representativeness of outcomes focus on groups of voters and demand that sufficiently large and cohesive groups are “represented” in the sense that candidates approved by some group members are selected. Crucially, these criteria say nothing about the representation of individual voters, even if these voters are members of groups that deserve representation. In this paper, we formalize the concept of individual representation (IR) and explore to which extent, and under which circumstances, it can be achieved. We show that checking whether an IR outcome exists is computationally intractable, and we verify that all common approval-based voting rules may fail to provide IR even in cases where this is possible. We then focus on domain restrictions and establish an interesting contrast between “voter interval” and “candidate interval” preferences. This contrast can also be observed in our experimental results, where we analyze the attainability of IR for realistic preference profiles.

Convolutional neural networks uncover the dynamics of human visual memory representations over time.

The ability to accurately retrieve visual details of past events is a fundamental cognitive function relevant for daily life. While a visual stimulus contains an abundance of information, only some of it is later encoded into long-term memory representations. However, an ongoing challenge has been to isolate memory representations that integrate various visual features and uncover their dynamics over time. To address this question, we leveraged a novel combination of empirical and computational frameworks based on the hierarchal structure of convolutional neural networks and their correspondence to human visual processing. This enabled to reveal the contribution of different levels of visual representations to memory strength and their dynamics over time. Visual memory strength was measured with distractors selected based on their shared similarity to the target memory along low or high layers of the convolutional neural network hierarchy. The results show that visual working memory relies similarly on low and high-level visual representations. However, already after a few minutes and on to the next day, visual memory relies more strongly on high-level visual representations. These findings suggest that visual representations transform from a distributed to a stronger high-level conceptual representation, providing novel insights into the dynamics of visual memory over time.

Probing visual literacy skills reveals unexpected student conceptions of chromosomes.

Molecular biology can be challenging for undergraduate students because it requires visual literacy skills to interpret abstract representations of submicroscopic concepts, structures and processes. The Conceptual-Reasoning-Mode framework suggests that visual literacy relies on applying conceptual knowledge to appropriately reason with the different ways of representing concepts in molecular biology. We used this framework to specifically explore visual literacy related to chromosomes. We conducted 35 semi-structured interviews with students who had taken at least a year of college-level biology courses, and we asked them to sketch chromosomes, interpret an abstract representation of chromosomes, and use the abstract representation to answer a multiple-choice question about meiosis. While many participants used the correct vocabulary to describe chromosome structure and function, probing their visual literacy skills revealed gaps in their understanding. Notably, 97% of participants (34 of 35) held conceptual errors related to chromosome structure and function, which were often only revealed in their sketches or explanations of their sketches. Our findings highlight the importance of scaffolding visual literacy skills into instruction by teaching with a variety of visual models and engaging students in using and interpreting the conventions of abstract representations of chromosomes.

Office soundscape assessment: A model of acoustic environment perception in open-plan officesa).

The soundscape approach has been utilised in recent research for residential environments, but applications to indoor working environments remain limited. This study investigated the suitability of affective quality evaluations of open-plan office acoustics. Perceptual assessments were completed by occupants of eight open-plan office floorplates, using affective dimensions outlined in PD ISO/TS 12913-3:2019 and indoor soundscape studies. Participant demographic, contextual, work-related quality, and psychological well-being data were collected. Workstation noise levels were measured following BS ISO 22955:2021. Principal component analysis identified Pleasantness, Eventfulness, and Emptiness as the main perceptual dimensions, cumulatively explaining 56% of the total variance. Results indicate the suitability of the PD ISO/TS 12913-3:2019 two-dimensional model for open-plan offices. The perceived presence of human sounds negatively correlated with ISO Pleasantness yet positively correlated with ISO Eventfulness. Participant gender and aural diversity mediated ISO Pleasantness. Psychological well-being and work-related quality correlated positively with soundscape pleasantness. No correlations were found between level-based acoustical indicators-equivalent continuous sound level (LAeq), level exceeded 10% (LA10) and 90% (LA90) of the time, level variability (LA10-LA90) and Liveliness-and perceptual scores. A conceptual representation of open-plan office soundscape perception is presented, offering a framework for evaluating and designing workspaces to enhance well-being.

Th e concept of human image in the artistic heritage of A.A. Zinoviev

The work analyzes the concepts of human representation in the art trilogy of A.A. Zinoviev. The specific genre features of his novels are described, which dictate a new form of representation of a person completely impersonal and stereotyped. The supra-individual nature of his characters is emphasized, which are generally represented by three varieties: ibans, homos, postmen, each of which has its own extreme poles. Specific techniques have been identified that distinguish the novel heroes of the artistic space A.A. Zinoviev: the heroes of the trilogy are compared with the options for representing the character in a classic novel, on the basis of which specific artistic techniques of the image are distinguished, characteristic only of the sociological novels of A.A. Zinoviev. The conclusions obtained as a result of the analysis of typed heroes of the art trilogy allow us to talk about the creation of a new genre of the novel — sociological, in which the concept of human representation undergoes deep author's processing, as a result, the hero is not interesting as a person, but as the embodiment of a particular idea, and conditional impersonal heroes represent a world without conventions, in all its potential possibilities, this is the phenomenon of A.A. Zinoviev, which turned the conditional form of the novel into a statistically life-like diagnostic social sentence to modern society.

QURANIC IMAGERY OF SABR (PATIENCE)

This study investigates the Quranic representation of both kinetic and abstract imagery to elucidate the significance and essence of sabr as conveyed in the verses of the Quran. Both abstract and kinetic pictures are analyzed to enhance the imagery elaboration of the abstract idea of sabr as presented in the verses of the Quran. The abstract image underwent a first evaluation to ascertain the value and quality of sabr. The study examines diverse methods of practicing sabr through abstract concepts, including confidence, hope, serenity, piety, and obedience, which are classified as faith and piety. The study identified the representation of dynamic visuals in the portrayal of the tangible concept of sabr. The concrete images of sabr are interpreted through two techniques of kinetic imagery, represented by second and third-person pronouns. The second pronoun is employed to engage the reader in vivid imagery, while the third pronoun aims to facilitate readers visualization of the narratives of sabr. This study assessed the kinetic and abstract representations in interpreting abstract qualities and values. Examining the representations of abstract concepts from the Quran is recommended to attain a more profound comprehension of them.

Double training reveals an interval-invariant subsecond temporal structure in the brain.

Subsecond temporal perception is critical for understanding time-varying events. Many studies suggest that subsecond timing is an intrinsic property of neural dynamics, distributed across sensory modalities and brain areas. However, our recent finding of the transfer of temporal interval discrimination (TID) learning across sensory modalities supports the existence of a more abstract and conceptual representation of subsecond time that guides the temporal processing of distributed mechanisms. One major challenge to this hypothesis is that TID learning consistently fails to transfer from trained intervals to untrained intervals. To address this issue, here, we examined whether this interval specificity can be removed with double training, a procedure originally developed to eliminate various specificities in visual perceptual learning. Specifically, participants practiced the primary TID task, the learning of which per se was specific to the trained interval (e.g., 100 ms). In addition, they also received exposure to a new interval (e.g., 200 ms) through a secondary and functionally independent tone-frequency discrimination task. This double training successfully enabled complete transfer of TID learning to the new interval, indicating that training improved an interval-invariant component of temporal interval perception, which supports our proposal of an abstract and conceptual representation of subsecond time in the brain. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).