Underdetermination and Models in Biology

Since the early 20th century underdetermination has been one of the most contentious problems in the philosophy of science. In this article I relate the underdetermination problem to models in biology and defend two main lines of argument: First, the use of models in this discipline lends strong support to the underdetermination thesis. Second, models and theories in biology are not determined strictly by the logic of representation of the studied phenomena, but also by other constraints such as research traditions, backgrounds of the scientists, aims of the research and available technology. Convincing evidence for the existence of underdetermination in biology, where models abound, comes both from the fact that for a natural phenomenon we can create a number of candidate models but also from the fact that we do not have a universal rule that would adjudicate among them. This all makes a strong case for the general validity of underdetermination thesis

On the Nature of Models: The Unfinished Debate

Review: Ippoliti, Emiliano, Sterpetti, Fabio, Nickles Thomas : Models and Inferences in Science

Půlstoletí kontroverzí o Kuhnově Struktuře

Recenze: William J. DEVLIN - Alisa BOKULICH, Kuhn's Structure of Scientific Revolutions - 50 Years On. Boston Studies in the Philosophy and History of Science. Boston: Springer 2015, 199 s

Distributive and trimedial quasigroups of order 243

We enumerate three classes of non-medial quasigroups of order $243=3^5$ up to isomorphism. There are $17004$ non-medial trimedial quasigroups of order $243$ (extending the work of Kepka, B\'en\'eteau and Lacaze), $92$ non-medial distributive quasigroups of order $243$ (extending the work of Kepka and N\v{e}mec), and $6$ non-medial distributive Mendelsohn quasigroups of order $243$ (extending the work of Donovan, Griggs, McCourt, Opr\v{s}al and Stanovsk\'y). The enumeration technique is based on affine representations over commutative Moufang loops, on properties of automorphism groups of commutative Moufang loops, and on computer calculations with the \texttt{LOOPS} package in \texttt{GAP}

Objectivity in the Natural Sciences from the X-Phi Point of View

Objectivity, as one of the key attributes of science, has become an indispensable part of its ethos and a central theme of the philosophy of science. As such, it has been a subject of philosophical reflection by a number of authors. In our project – in which both philosophers of science and scientists participate – we examine the concept of objectivity in the natural sciences with the tools of experimental philosophy. We aim to identify specific operational dimensions of objectivity, those with which current scientist actually work, thus making them accessible for further theoretical analysis and research. In this text, we present results from the first, qualitative phase of our research based on in-depth interviews and focus groups with scientists working in the Czech Republic. Further, we confront this empirical data with theoretical notions of objectivity. We also present other findings from the research and formulate hypotheses for the research’s subsequent phases

Solomon's concept of vectors, its context and meaning

Ve stati představíme teorii vektorů rozhodování Miriam Solomonové, která vytváří komplexní rámec pro uchopení nejrůznějších zkreslení, stereotypů, efektů a heuristik doprovázejících činnost vědců. V úvodu se nicméně vrátíme k nauce o idolech Francise Bacona, která je jedním z jejích předobrazů, přestože je dělí bezmála čtyři staletí. Následně zevrubně popíšeme koncepci Solomonové, především typologii vektorů a její aplikace a omezení, které budou dokumentovány na konkrétních příkladech z historie vědy. Rovněž budeme diskutovat o jejím významu pro filozofii i sociologii vědy, například v souvislosti s teorií kontingence, epistemickou neutralitou, koncepcí „neviditelné ruky“, s přihlédnutím k dobovému kontextu i paralelnímu vývoji v dalších disciplínách, jako jsou kognitivní vědy a psychologie. V závěru se pak vrátíme ke srovnání Baconova normativního ideálu a deskriptivní teorie Solomonové a k otázce, zda lze vůbec po staletích vývoje učinit nějaký generalizující úsudek o úloze zkreslení ve vědě.In this paper, we introduce Miriam Solomon's theory of decision-making vectors, which provides a comprehensive framework for capturing various biases, stereotypes, effects, and heuristics that accompany the activities of scientists. In the introduction we will return to Francis Bacon's doctrine of idols, one of its precursors, although it is nearly four centuries that separate them. We will then describe in detail Solomon's conception, especially the typology of vectors and its applications and limitations, which will be illustrated with concrete examples from the history of science. We will also discuss its relevance to the philosophy and sociology of science, for example in relation to contingency theory, epistemic neutrality, and the concept of the "invisible hand", taking into account the contemporary context and parallel developments in other disciplines such as cognitive science and psychology. In the concluding section we will return to a comparison of Bacon's normative ideal and Solomon's descriptive theory, and to the question of whether, after centuries of development, any generalizing judgment can be made at all about the role of biases in science

Emergency responce planing in approved traning organization

Diplomová práce je zaměřena na tvorbu Plánu reakce v případě nouze pro leteckou školu. První část práce se věnuje organizacím v letectví a jiném dopravním průmyslu, které ukládají povinnost zavedení systému řízení bezpečnosti. Další část analyzuje požadavky předpisů a dokumentů na Plánu reakce v případě nouze. Třetí kapitola je věnována tvorbě všeobecného manuálu, který pomůže leteckým školám při tvorbě ERP. V poslední kapitole je ukázka konkrétního ERP pro modelovou leteckou školu, který je vytvořen dle manuálu z třetí části práce.This master‘s thesis is focused on the creation of the Emergency Response Plan (ERP) for an Approved Training Organisation (ATO). The first part of this thesis describes aviation organisations and other transport organisations that require Safety management system. The second part analyses requirements for documentation and regulations for applying Emergency Response Plan. In the third section there is an ERP general manual which helps ATO with the creation of the document. The last part contains the ERP created for a model ATO with the help of the general manual from the third chapter.

Noise Meter And Sound Detector

This paper describes design and construction of a noise meter, which measures sound pressure level. The device can be set either for weighting filter A or for weighting filter C considering the characteristics of human hearing. The device also allows two modes, Fast and Slow, depending on the rate of changes of sound pressure level. It is possible to send measured data to a PC through a measuring application. The noise meter can be controlled by buttons or by voice commands

Shear-wave velocity structure beneath the Dinarides from the inversion of Rayleigh-wave dispersion

Highlights • Rayleigh-wave phase velocity in the wider Dinarides region using the two-station method. • Uppermost mantle shear-wave velocity model of the Dinarides-Adriatic Sea region. • Velocity model reveals a robust high-velocity anomaly present under the whole Dinarides. • High-velocity anomaly reaches depth of 160 km in the northern Dinarides to more than 200 km under southern Dinarides. • New structural model incorporating delamination as one of the processes controlling the continental collision in the Dinarides. The interaction between the Adriatic microplate (Adria) and Eurasia is the main driving factor in the central Mediterranean tectonics. Their interplay has shaped the geodynamics of the whole region and formed several mountain belts including Alps, Dinarides and Apennines. Among these, Dinarides are the least investigated and little is known about the underlying geodynamic processes. There are numerous open questions about the current state of interaction between Adria and Eurasia under the Dinaric domain. One of the most interesting is the nature of lithospheric underthrusting of Adriatic plate, e.g. length of the slab or varying slab disposition along the orogen. Previous investigations have found a low-velocity zone in the uppermost mantle under the northern-central Dinarides which was interpreted as a slab gap. Conversely, several newer studies have indicated the presence of the continuous slab under the Dinarides with no trace of the low velocity zone. Thus, to investigate the Dinaric mantle structure further, we use regional-to-teleseismic surface-wave records from 98 seismic stations in the wider Dinarides region to create a 3D shear-wave velocity model. More precisely, a two-station method is used to extract Rayleigh-wave phase velocity while tomography and 1D inversion of the phase velocity are employed to map the depth dependent shear-wave velocity. Resulting velocity model reveals a robust high-velocity anomaly present under the whole Dinarides, reaching the depths of 160 km in the north to more than 200 km under southern Dinarides. These results do not agree with most of the previous investigations and show continuous underthrusting of the Adriatic lithosphere under Europe along the whole Dinaric region. The geometry of the down-going slab varies from the deeper slab in the north and south to the shallower underthrusting in the center. On-top of both north and south slabs there is a low-velocity wedge indicating lithospheric delamination which could explain the 200 km deep high-velocity body existing under the southern Dinarides

Crustal Thinning From Orogen to Back-Arc Basin: The Structure of the Pannonian Basin Region Revealed by P-to-S Converted Seismic Waves

We present the results of P-to-S receiver function analysis to improve the 3D image of the sedimentary layer, the upper crust, and lower crust in the Pannonian Basin area. The Pannonian Basin hosts deep sedimentary depocentres superimposed on a complex basement structure and it is surrounded by mountain belts. We processed waveforms from 221 three-component broadband seismological stations. As a result of the dense station coverage, we were able to achieve so far unprecedented spatial resolution in determining the velocity structure of the crust. We applied a three-fold quality control process; the first two being applied to the observed waveforms and the third to the calculated radial receiver functions. This work is the first comprehensive receiver function study of the entire region. To prepare the inversions, we performed station-wise H-Vp/Vs grid search, as well as Common Conversion Point migration. Our main focus was then the S-wave velocity structure of the area, which we determined by the Neighborhood Algorithm inversion method at each station, where data were sub-divided into back-azimuthal bundles based on similar Ps delay times. The 1D, nonlinear inversions provided the depth of the discontinuities, shear-wave velocities and Vp/Vs ratios of each layer per bundle, and we calculated uncertainty values for each of these parameters. We then developed a 3D interpolation method based on natural neighbor interpolation to obtain the 3D crustal structure from the local inversion results. We present the sedimentary thickness map, the first Conrad depth map and an improved, detailed Moho map, as well as the first upper and lower crustal thickness maps obtained from receiver function analysis. The velocity jump across the Conrad discontinuity is estimated at less than 0.2 km/s over most of the investigated area. We also compare the new Moho map from our approach to simple grid search results and prior knowledge from other techniques. Our Moho depth map presents local variations in the investigated area: the crust-mantle boundary is at 20–26 km beneath the sedimentary basins, while it is situated deeper below the Apuseni Mountains, Transdanubian and North Hungarian Ranges (28–33 km), and it is the deepest beneath the Eastern Alps and the Southern Carpathians (40–45 km). These values reflect well the Neogene evolution of the region, such as crustal thinning of the Pannonian Basin and orogenic thickening in the neighboring mountain belts