Scientific Terms Research Articles

Semantic and structural challenges of translating modern English agro-engineering terminology into Ukrainian

The study analyzes semantic and structural peculiarities of translating modern English agro-engineering terminology. Agro-engineering terms represent the up-to-date level of agriculture development noted for advanced mechanization, application of various technical processes, new technologies, etc., this causing additional translation problems. Besides, agricultural terminology encapsulates field-specific lexis as well as mathematical, mechanical, biological and general scientific terms. Translation difficulties are closely related to lingual characteristics of agro-engineering terms (structural peculiarities, synonymy, homonymy). Playing a significant role in forming this segment of professional lexicon, multi-component units are difficult to translate due to their length and non-prepositional bonds in most cases. The main research methods include comparative and contrastive analysis as well as the quantitative method. The results obtained reveal that a variety of techniques applied to translating English agro-engineering terms into Ukrainian include equivalence, analogue, descriptive techniques, transliteration, grammatical and lexical transformations. Yet, the most frequent technique is equivalence. Application of different translation techniques in multicomponent phrases can cause inconsistences in the number of components in a terminological phrase in a target language. The authors suggest an algorithm of English-Ukrainian translation of agro-engineering multicomponent terms. The paper is intended for a wide range of specialists interested in translating agro-engineering texts, teaching ESP, students of translation departments and experts in the relevant field of knowledge.

Scientific realism and quantum theory: on the status of the ‘unobservables’

ABSTRACT Scientific realism does not view theoretical terms as mere instruments of experimental predictions; it grants referential status to natural kind terms with 'epistemic access' and view scientific theories and terms as corresponding to physical phenomena and entities which exist independently of observation, and as thereby being the source of objective -approximate and not absolute- knowledge of the physical realm. As a result, scientific realism is accused of ontologising the unobservables. Against this charge, scientific realism posits the idea of the dialectical relation between theoretical terms referring to the unobservables and scientific methods. The second argument made by realism is the ‘no miracle’ thesis. These arguments stand challenged by the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics. The aim of the paper is to examine the relevance of the two arguments of scientific realism in countering the idea that the existence of quantum states in the microphysical world renders realism obsolete.

CASES OF SYNONYMY AND ANTONYMY IN THE LATIN MEDICAL TERMINOLOGICAL SYSTEM

One of the most significant traits of terminology is its consistency. Each term may be perceived as an entity with bilateral nature: 1. A unity of meaning and form; 2. An entity from the natural language subject to the same phenomena and processes, which are valid for all language units. Synonymy and antonymy result from the ambiguous relation between the form and meaning of the term; unfortunately, they cannot be avoided – even in specialized terminological systems. Since scientific terminology is intended for specific purposes, it is based on the convention regarding the structuring and usage of linguistic forms and their meanings more than any other lexical subsystem. The research object of the present text is the cases of synonymy and antonymy found in the Latin medical terminology as well as the reasons for their appearance. Such lexical relations are observed between lexemes, between a lexeme and a phraseological unit, and between phraseological units.The examples provided are called absolute antonyms and absolute synonyms (or lexical doublets) and they can be part only of the specialized terminological system. Those relations between terms may cause a problem in communication because they obstruct the possibility of a specific and identical nomination in the field of science. On the other hand, they facilitate the appearance of new different variants, and these different forms may also express different opinions about the same phenomenon.

Panorama of Undergraduate Research in Brazil: Profile, Scientific Production, and Perceptions

Undergraduate Research (UR) is an institutional program that introduces undergraduate students to scientific research. The program selects research projects proposed by advisors and students for execution. Despite the importance of knowing the stages of research activities in undergraduate research, only a few studies have evaluated data on this subject. Therefore, this study aims to outline an overview of UR in a Brazilian educational institution, considering the profiles of students and advisors, students’ scientific productions, and perceptions about the experience of both. The study was a mixed-approach case study conducted through a questionnaire and interviews. The sample consisted of 213 undergraduate students and 167 UR supervisors. The results show that the largest group of students were aged 21 and 22 (46.6%) and supervisors 33 to 38 years (38.9%). Regarding the scientific productions of students, those who participated twice or more in undergraduate research had higher indicators compared to those who were participating for the first time. Students’ perceptions of their evolution and perceptions of the advisors were mostly positive, with a greater number of responses classified as very good to good. Thus, the satisfaction of researchers in being part of this experience was perceived and the need to improve the scientific production indicators of students, mediated by the advisors stimulating the writing of articles, abstracts, and books, as well as participation in events and patent development, was shown. We conclude that undergraduate research activities promote the integral development of students’ academic, scientific, personal, and professional terms, which ultimately reflect critical and emancipatory actions in society.

Contribution of creative human capital to the economic growth of the country

In the article, the author considers and identifies creative economic capital as a fairly new category in the terminology of economic science. In the conditions of increasing scientific and technological progress and the formation of an innovative economy, the role of the innovator, the inventor is beyond doubt. Such people are the carriers of creative human capital. Scientific research in the field of economics substantiates the assessment of the most creative human capital and its contribution to economic well – being and economic growth. For this, there are prerequisites for the development of appropriate measurement techniques and tools. The author gives a critical analysis of existing evaluation methods, justifies the shortcomings that help to level them in the future when developing their own author’s methodology.

At the Crossroads of Legal and Technical Translation: The Case of Personal Data

In this paper, the researcher will examine the specific features of Decisions and Directives concerning personal data and their translation into Greek and from Greek. Privacy is protected in the European Union and in the national legislation of each member state. Since the texts in each source language depict not only issues concerning personal data but also national legislation and socio-political issues, the translator is called to share successful notions linked directly to privacy issues and information technology but also to transfer the social and economic conditions. Through this study, the specific traits of personal data texts will become evident. Through specific examples, we examine the special translation issues of these texts mainly through the coexistence of information technology, and scientific, and legal terms. We concentrate on institutions, administrative procedures, and legal notions that must be understood and rendered in the translation to the target language. Despite several similarities in the legal framework, legal texts concerning personal data depict social structures. Data protection is a relatively new sector encompassing various approaches, and special attention should be paid in order to render specific shades of meaning.

Первая Всероссийская гигиеническая выставка охранения народного здравия, 1893 год

Introduction. Since 1820s, it became customary in the Russian Empire to hold various exhibitions - dedicated to manufacture and consequently industry; agricultural, local and national, as well as take part in international exhibitions. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, the number, scale and thematic diversity of such exhibitions grew significantly. Exhibitions related activities, which claimed such wide range and popularity, marked the change in public thought process about the new economic structures being established, and the understanding of the issues and risks associated with them, following industrial revolution. One of the problems identified was the deterioration of sanitary and hygiene conditions in cities, caused by growth in industrial production and population. Materials and methods. Catalogues of the Russian National Hygiene Exhibition of 1893 are the sources for this work. As well as documenting activities of the exhibition, they contain illustrative materials, scientific and academic reports on urban life, data from the periodicals of that era, in the study of which historico-typological and historico-descriptive methods are used. Results. In the majority of differently themed exhibitions, natural science and medical sections were established, which confirmed the need for targeted development of medical and sanitary aspects. These sections, which were partly organised by scientific societies, were seen, for example, at the Polytechnic Exhibition in 1872, the Craft Exhibition in 1885, Siberian-Ural Scientific and Industrial Exhibition in 1887 in Ekaterinburg, and Scientific and Industrial Exhibition of the Volzhsko-Kamskii region in Kazan in 1890. Finally, in May 1893, Russian National Exhibition was opened in St Petersburg dedicated solely to the development of sanitary and hygienic issues. Exhibition’s organisers declared enlightenment to be its main goal- popularisation of knowledge, scientific discoveries, and inventions in the field of hygiene and sanitation. A large number of state institutions and departments, scientific and public organisations, and private entrepreneurs helped to prepare this exhibition, presenting about 50 thousand exhibits that describe all aspects of human life from both medical and sanitary points of view. Various models and mockups, drawings, sketches and photographs, devices, equipment and tools, demonstrated achievements both in scientific and practical terms. Conclusion. This exhibition attracted high levels of attention, and its exhibits convincingly proved existence of serious problems and threats in the area of public hygiene and sanitation. It became apparent that in order to solve these on a contemporary level, it was necessary to rely on joint scientific and technological resources. Russia’s participation in the World Hygiene Exhibition in 1911 was another step in this direction, followed by the launch of Russia’s second National Hygiene Exhibition in 1913, the footprint of which grew even larger. @ 2023. This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Comparative Analysis of Stylistic, Lexical and Grammatical Features of English and Russian Technical Texts

Translation of scientific and technical literature has always been recognized as a highly challenging job. On the one hand, for making a competent translation, a person who is going to do it should have knowledge in the relevant field, and on the other hand, he or she should be familiar with the features of the scientific style and the lexical and grammatical components, which are different in different languages. The aim of this study was to generalize the stylistic, lexical and grammatical features of a scientific and technical text taking the English and Russian languages as an example. The generally adopted structure of technical texts is analyzed, and a collection of the most frequently encountered phrases and expressions for particular sections of the text both in Russian and English is given. Scientific texts are considered from the syntactic, grammatical and lexical points of view. It has been concluded that from the syntax point of view, the sentences are mostly complex in nature and contain subordinate constructions and verbal clauses. Signs of compression are often encountered, which are expressed by impersonal sentences in Russian and elliptical constructions in English. The predominance of passive constructions in both languages is noted. The lexical component is governed by commonly used, general scientific vocabulary and terms. In the texts there are metaphors and imagery that help more lively convey the essence of the term on the one hand, and on the other hand they add difficulty to translating the information. An important linguistic feature of terms in technical and scientific languages is the use of complex word combinations that allow information to be set out in brief and compact form. For brevity, some of them are transformed into abbreviations. In modern scientific literature, there is a tendency toward outlining information in the maximally compact form by using certain and grammatical tools.

ПРОБЛЕМИ НОРМАТИВНО-ПРАВОВОГО ФОРМУЛЮВАННЯ ДЕФІНІЦІЙ У ГАЛУЗІ ІНФОРМАЦІЙНИХ ТЕХНОЛОГІЙ (НА ПРИКЛАДІ «ІНФОРМАЦІЙНІ РЕСУРСИ»)

The article is devoted to the issue of normative and legal consolidation of definitions that regulate social relations in the field of information services, information and communication systems, and information technologies. This problem arose as a result of the rapid development of information technologies, informatization and digitization of social processes. This led to the appearance of a significant number of new scientific and technical terms, the practice of which had no analogues, and the variety of interpretations created conditions for their ambiguous application, for example, when determining responsibility for violations of activities in the information sphere, during the transfer, use of information, etc. This issue is explained in detail using the definition of «information resources». On the basis of the analysis of this concept in various normative legal acts, scientific publications, a conclusion is made about the lack of a unanimous understanding of this phenomenon, and therefore the impossibility of fixing its unequivocal interpretation at the legislative level. As a way out of this situation, it is proposed to consider the definition of «information resources» in relation to a certain specific sphere of social activity. For the purpose of practical implementation of such a proposal, a list of factors that must be taken into account when formulating this definition in relation to a certain specific sphere of social activity is developed. Such factors include: information processes that determine the development of modern information technologies; technological and technical means of information processing and their use; processes of formation of information resources management system; status of information resources; information interaction with compatible fields of application; regulatory and legal analysis of activities in a certain field of information processing; analysis of scientific research on the definition of «information resources» and individual opinions of scholars regarding this phenomenon, etc. In order to correct the situation that has developed in modern Ukrainian legislation regarding the raised issue, it is proposed to make amendments to the fundamental legal act in the system of regulation of information relations in Ukraine - the Law of Ukraine «On Information». In Article 1 «Definition of terms» it should be noted: information resources are information, information technologies, knowledge bases, etc., the specification of which is determined by normative legal acts regulating information relations in a particular field. And in other legal acts that regulate information activities in a certain sphere of public activity (for example, the Law of Ukraine «On the National Police», the Law of Ukraine «On the Security Service of Ukraine», «On the State Border Service of Ukraine», etc.), provide for the interpretation of the concept «information resources» in accordance with the specifics of the activities of the mentioned services.

Comprehensive study of the relationship between multiverse and big data

Studies linking two broader spectra of topics have fascinated scholars in many aspects. Here we tried associating two such far-reaching aspects which have finite connectivity between them. Multiverse has been the talk of the hour which explains the theory of multiple universes which exist in parallel. This is a topic in physics concerned with many relative matters. On the other side, Big data is the subject in computing and information science describing the volume, velocity, and variability of the data hitting computer-connected systems. Big data can only be handled with newer architectures, algorithms, and methodologies as its features are contradicting regular computer systems and networks. It is well known that multiple processors are required to handle big data existing in parallel performing a single job given by the data analyst. So as we know, multiverse consist of hypothetical concepts of several parallel universe having everything like information, energy, and time. However, we see this situation to draw an association connecting parallel universes of the multiverse with parallel processors of big data by incorporating the concepts of working of parallel universe in the processing of Big Data. We provide a comprehensive observation on both the topics and take positive lenience on bringing a newer terminology in data science. History of multiverse along with big data structures are brought in with related parameters. This aspect is novel in its nature and we complement the literature carried out by the researchers and scholars appropriate analysis. We also showcase a model of the school of thought mentioned above in drawing conclusions.

Against Authority: The Bioethics of Ivermectin Use for COVID-19 Infection.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought new ethical challenges to both health care professionals and the general public. Among the ethical problems amplified during this period were the making of medical decisions to quickly introduce some drugs into therapeutic practice with unproven or insufficiently proven effects (such as ivermectin), the validity of drug testing, and the allocation of limited resources. The COVID-19 pandemic brought to the attention of the entire scientific world a new problem, which exceeded the guidelines and rules known until then. Out of the desire to quickly solve this medical problem, a series of measures were taken, however not sufficiently validated in scientific terms; the recommendations regarding the use of drugs known for their properties to treat a greater number of conditions, such as ivermectin, was tried. A narrative review of the specialized literature was carried out using keywords such as COVID-19, ivermectin, ethics, and off-label medication from Scopus and Google Scholar but also of official documents developed at the international level (World Health Organization). The off-label use of ivermectin alone or in combination with other medications during COVID pandemic raised problems related to the demonstration of its effectiveness, but also to ethics, starting from the expectations that both the medical staff and the population had of it. Ivermectin therapy was also evaluated by analyzing the behavior of ivermectin based on ethical principles (nonmaleficence, beneficence, and respect for one's autonomy) or on justice. Even in times of pandemic, exceptionalism must not triumph, and finding an effective treatment must be done through studies that respect ethical standard. The failures or rather lack of success in decision making during the pandemic showed that alongside scientific knowledge and the development of health policies, it is necessary to constantly evaluate the measures and decisions from an ethical point of view, and the prevention of slippages and abuses is not only necessary but even mandatory.

Using Simplex (an online writing tool) to assist students when simplifying complex ideas towards various audiences: a pilot project

Professional skills development is an increasingly emphasized part of the undergraduate curriculum. Both physiology instructors and students of STEM place a high importance on effective communication of scientific information to a variety of audiences. However, it can be difficult for students to simplify technical jargon and ensure a clear message. Simplex alpha is an online writing tool to identify scientific jargon and assist the writing simplification process. The goal of this pilot project was to evaluate whether Simplex alpha assisted students when reducing scientific writing, improving knowledge retention, and increasing the effectiveness of communication. Participants in this study included 129 undergraduate science majors from Michigan State University. Each participant was given the same scientific abstract to rewrite and assigned to one of three groups. Group A utilized the Simplex alpha online tool, Group B was provided minimal feedback, and Group C was given no feedback. A knowledge assessment was completed, and participants were later asked to rate five random rewritten de-identified abstracts as to their perceived “effectiveness” based on the writing prompt. Group A performed slightly better on the knowledge assessment than groups B and C (89.3% vs. 88.3% vs. 86.9%). More participants in Group B simplified the abstract to the lowest grade levels vs. Groups A and C. There was a statistically significant difference in the effectiveness scores between the groups as Group B slightly outperformed Group C, while Groups B and C significantly outperformed Group A (P=0.004). Students using the Simplex alpha tool were highly complementary to its ease of use and the benefits of identifying technical jargon for simplification. However, Group A did not achieve as favorable “effectiveness” outcomes as those participants in Group B and Group C (minimal and no feedback respectively). It is not known whether the tool itself or the time spent attempting to simplify writing can be of greatest benefit. Further attenuation of the methods may need to be evaluated. Department of Physiology, Michigan State University This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

SUBSTANTIAL COMPONENTS OF THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS: CONCEPT, PSYCHOLOGICAL STRUCTURE, AND FACTORS

The article highlights the theoretical study results of the «decision-making» concept, the psychological structure and factors of the decision-making process. The main areas of research on the decision-making process are highlighted: the activity of a practical psychologist; pedagogical activity; marketing; situations of risk and uncertainty; managerial activity. In accordance with the tendency to move away from russian-language calques in Ukrainian scientific terminology, in this article emphasized the practicability of using the construct «ухвалення рішень», which corresponds to the context of the decision, as opposed to the previously used «прийняття рішень». As a result of the analysis the main components of the «decision-making» concept are identified: an integrative cognitive process, a selection process, a set of alternatives, a goal or a desired result, and criteria for evaluating alternatives in accordance with the formulated goal. The selection of the essential characteristics of the decision-making process in different approaches and theories allowed the interpretation of the «decision-making» concept as an integrative cognitive process of choosing the most optimal alternative from the available set, which is occurs in accordance with the formulated goal on the selected criteria basis. The analysis of the instance-based learning theory (IBLT), the layered reference model of the brain (LRMB) in combination with the cognitive model of memory «OAR», the psychological concept of decision-making «WRAP», etc. allowed to identify the decision-making process components (problem situation that leads to the need of finding an optimal solution; goal; reproduction of alternative solutions in memory or generation of new ones in case of the situation novelty; criteria for evaluating alternatives in accordance with the formulated goal; evaluation of alternatives; the choice of the most optimal alternative; implementation) and to characterize its psychological structure. The factors of the decision-making process are identified and characterized: socio-economic status; level of social support; peer environment; level of social risks; reflection; value of education; value of freedom; value of public recognition; personal resoluteness, which includes a number of components (tolerance, risk-taking, assertiveness, adventurousness, detaildness, reflexivity and foresight); motivation for success; urgent needs; heuristics and biases; feelings of regret; the value of different alternatives attributes in a decision situation; the willpower of the individual. Among these factors, a special role is played by reflection, reflexivity, free will and the value of different alternatives attributes in a decision situation. The theoretical analysis of the decision-making process factors has shown the absence of their classification and categorization, which determines the prospects for further research in this area.

The Challenge of Communicating Biomedical Research to the Public

Biomedical Research is a key field with the potential to significantly enhance medical results and save lives. It can be difficult to convey the results of this kind of research to the general audience, though. The public frequently has a limited knowledge of the research process and the significance of new findings, despite the significant work that researchers are performing in laboratories and clinics all around the world. Scientists and healthcare professionals are faced with a dilemma since they need to develop strategies for effectively sharing their research and interacting with the public in order to foster trust and understanding [1].
 The intricacy of the topic is one of the major obstacles to effectively explaining biomedical research to the general audience. Many biomedical research studies use complex scientific terminology and technical jargon that is challenging for laypeople to comprehend. Additionally, some studies may deal with contentious subjects like gene editing or stem cell research, which might be difficult to convey in an understandable way. Scientists and healthcare professionals must discover ways to simplify complex concepts in order to make their results accessible to a larger audience [2].
 The influence of the media and false information is another difficulty in explaining biomedical research to the general population. The media may be very helpful in spreading the word about new research findings, but it also has the potential to confuse and mislead the public by sensationalizing or misrepresenting study findings. Furthermore, the emergence of social media has facilitated the transmission of false information, posing difficulties for researchers who must traverse a sea of contradictory data and shifting degrees of public confidence [3].
 Researchers and healthcare professionals must interact with the public in novel and creative ways in order to overcome these obstacles. For instance, they can share their study results with a larger audience through social media and other digital channels. To guarantee accurate and ethical reporting of their activities, they can also cooperate with journalists and media organizations. They can also collaborate with neighborhood associations and patient advocacy groups to foster public confidence and understanding.
 Overall, researchers and healthcare professionals must continually engage in and innovate to meet the issue of conveying scientific research to the general population. They can create a more educated and involved public and, in turn, enhance healthcare results and everyone's quality of life by figuring up fresh and efficient methods to share their work with the world.

Chatbots at the service of government platforms

Aim: Within government activities, we have seen a marked digitalisation process in the last few years, both at domestic and international level. In this environment, human activity is naturally replaced by software solutions, and this is true for the governmental interaction with clients through government platforms. The aim of this study is to explore the conditions for the use of chatbot communication forms in public administrations, by examining the case where a government platform is used for the administrative procedures. The study also aims to explore and systematise the impact of these solutions on the transparency of the government platform and the administrative procedures carried out through it.Methodology: Critically analyse national and European legal sources of the subject, as well as implemented and planned practical solutions, in order to formulate a set of requirements and recommendations.Findings: The set of requirements for administrative procedures identifies a number of requirements that can be interpreted in the context of the use of chatbots as a communication method. These can also be interpreted in terms of legal compliance, and are not just recommendations or good practices. The impact of a software solution on transparency is twofold: on the one hand, it can greatly increase the transparency of the platform and the process, due to its speed and interactivity, and on the other hand, it can reduce it, depending on the degree of IT sophistication.Value: The most important new knowledge of the study, which can be interpreted in scientific terms, is that it defines the administrative requirements for chatbots as software solutions based on artificial intelligence, when they are used for the administration and communication of administrative procedure via government platforms. An important new concept of the study is the establishment of the equivalence principle, which applies when the human administrator’s contact and information tasks are replaced by a software solution on the platform in their entirety, without any choice.

Blended learning: definition, concept, and relevance

This article discusses blended learning (BL) as an optimal way to organize the educational process during crises, such as a pandemic or war. The article aims to answer two research questions: 1) What is the appropriate Ukrainian scientific term for "blended learning" given the country's European integration processes? 2) What is the meaning of the term "blended learning"? The analysis leads to the conclusion that the appropriate Ukrainian scientific term for "blended learning" is "kombinovane navchannia". The article defines blended learning as a planned, pedagogically balanced, adaptive combination, integration, and interpenetration of technologies (face-to-face and distance learning, formal and informal learning, real and virtual, individual and collective learning) with the aim of optimally satisfying the educational needs of participants in the educational process through the use of intelligent technologies.

Influence of Homogeneous Dose Distribution Inside the Cancer Target on Local Control in Glioblastomas

Purpose: Assessment of the effect of homogeneous distribution inside the radiation target on local control in glioblastoma.
 Material and methods: In patients under the age of 50, fractionation with the prescribed dose of 2 and 3 Gy was alternately used: the first patient was prescribed a regimen with a dose of 3 Gy, the next – with a dose of 2 Gy (a study involving a pairwise selection strategy). The same approach is used for the older age group (50 years and more). A total of 141 patients had morphologically confirmed glioblastoma (grade 4). 10 patients who had not completed a full course of radiation therapy were excluded. Additionally, 27 patients with GBM were added, treated in the experimental study of National Medical Research Radiological Centre without methodological features. In total, 158 patients were included in the study. 74 patients were treated with the prescribed dose of 2 Gy, 84 had a dose of 3 Gy.
 Results: The median homogeneity index in our study was 7.5 (95% Cl: 6,7-8,3). The minimum HI indicator was at the level of 2.5, the maximum – 36.9. We managed to identify the most informative level of the homogeneity index according to the criterion of local control. The median disease-free survival in the group with HI>=8.5 was 7.9 months (n=62; 95 % Cl: 1.6-14.2), in the group with a lower level of homogeneity - 5.4 months (n=96; p=0.024). The significance of the highlighted HI range depended on the fractionation mode used. The median relapse–free survival with fractionation of 3 Gy in the group with HI>=8.5 was 12.7 months (n=38), in the group with a lower level of homogeneity - 8.3 months (n=46; p=0.020). In the group with fractionation regime of 2 Gy: 6.4 and 3.8 months, respectively (n=24/50; p=0.336). The median overall survival in the group with HI>=8.5 was 27.2 months, in the group with a lower level of homogeneity – 21.2 months (p=0.904).
 Conclusion: The level of homogeneity has no significance according to the criterion of overall survival. Despite the fact that this predictor is of value only in scientific terms, the fact of its influence on local control allows to continue research in this direction. This primarily concerns the fractionation regimen with a prescribed dose of 3 Gy.

Uniting Contemplative Theory and Scientific Investigation: Toward a Comprehensive Model of the Mind

ObjectivesResearch into meditation-related emergent phenomenology is advancing, yet progress is hampered by significant incongruities between meditator self-reports and objective measurements (e.g., of brain states). We address these incongruities by developing and demonstrating the potential of contemplative theory to support scientific investigation.MethodOur approach is to translate key theories from Buddhist contemplative traditions into scientific terms, and then systematize these translations as a functionalist model of the mind—the Thin Model—able to inform scientific inquiry.ResultsBuddhist doctrine is shown to be consistent with objective descriptions of mental function, and the Thin Model derived from these translations demonstrates immediate explanatory power. The nested nature of the model allows explanations to be restricted to the specific problem being studied. The model enables connection of complex higher-level phenomena, such as self-reports of mental states, to complex lower-level phenomena, such as empirically measured brain states. This connection does not require simplistic assumptions to be made. A detailed demonstration illustrates how the model can convert subjective accounts of the ecstatic meditative states known as jhānas into testable neuroscientific hypotheses.ConclusionsWe provide an account of contemplative theory that is amenable to scientific investigation. Our approach, exemplified in the Thin Model, offers immediate explanatory power, allows meaningful dialogue between different research traditions, and provides an organizing principle for explanations of mental phenomena. The Thin Model may also be relevant to other fields concerned with autonomous entities or the nature and operation of the mind.

SHOULD EPONYMS BE KEPT? EMPHATIC YES

Conducting research in science education, the authors of the Journal of Baltic Science Education surely remember eponyms in school subjects and university courses. Eponym is a term that includes the name of the person, who discovered a species (biology), explored a glacier (geography), synthesized a compound (chemistry), formulated a law (physics), invented a device (engineering), proved a theorem (mathematics), treated or suffered a disease (medicine), etc. Most chemists and chemistry teachers know, e.g., such eponyms as Avogadro number, Wurtz reaction, Mendeleev table, Liebig condenser, Claisen adapter, Berthollet salt, asf. Eponyms are a relatively new domain of scientific terminology: they first appeared in the 19th century, when the development of science and technology grew rapidly, and scientists decided to honor brilliant colleagues, attaching their names to the discoveries they made. Before this, scientists used words from national and Latin languages to name discovered phenomena.

Conceptions of primary school students and trainee teachers about seed germination

ABSTRACT Research into seed germination classroom activities has been common in the last few decades. Didactic proposals have generally focused on the implementation of guided activities in a specific educational stage and context, and an evaluation of the results. However, it is not evident that students approach seed and germination concepts with a reasoned argument. In light of this, comparative research using an inquiry approach was undertaken with 59 primary school students and 82 trainee teachers at an education faculty in Spain, over two academic years. The results showed that it is necessary to give greater relevance to experimental activities to produce reasoned argumentation of seed and germination concepts. Activities should focus on variables that differ from those typical of common or historical agricultural knowledge. Variables derived from genetic information (size of the seed, latency period) are significant and helpful. It is also considered essential to work on the meaning and proper use of scientific terms, such as living and inert matter, sun-light-heat, or plant germination and growth processes. The search for explanations and the development of justifications, for example relating the excess of water to a lack of oxygen for the seeds, is also essential.