Peircean semiotics and subject indexing: Contributions of speculative grammar and pure logic

The semiotics of C S. Peirce presents fundamental concepts to discover aspects of the indexing process, including representation and classes of signs. However, we still know little of its theoretical potential for subject indexing. We believe that the main difficulty in the proposals to understand the process of subject indexing based on Peircean semiotics stems from an incomplete interpretation of his semiotic system. This paper attempts to describe the contributions of Peircean semiotics to subject indexing. First, we analyze some of the concepts of the branches of semiotics, after which, we discuss strategies for conceptual approximation. Secondly, and aiming to raise the level of interlocution between the areas, we intend to argue that subject indexing is an inferential process, as explained by the second branch of semiotics. Thus, we seek to go beyond the level of speculative grammar, the first branch of semiotics, to forge a closer link with pure or critical logic, the second branch. We conclude that the indexer's work does not produce a mere reflection of what already exists in documents, but involves an instigating action to discover, through the inferential matrix, the meaning of a text in order to find the subject and the most appropriate subject added entry to the information system.

A situação atual da indexação nas tarefas bibliotecárias

Na atualidade a atribuição dos descritores de assuntos ou indexação do conteúdo dos livros, nem sempre está associada ao contexto concreto de cada biblioteca, provocando, em muitos casos, que a recuperação por assuntos não resulte adequada. Neste trabalho analisam-se os principais desafios e perspectivas da indexação dos livros, os avanços de análises de assuntos nos catálogos de bibliotecas, examinam-se procedimentos, instrumentos, regras e condutas utilizadas nas análises e representação do conteúdo dos livros. Também se mostra a interação entre o ensino, a pesquisa e a atuação profissional necessária para que os estudantes possam desenvolver competências na análise, na representação e na procura da informação, assim como os princípios - provavelmente menos evidentes- da organização do conhecimento. Este trabalho coloca em evidência que as políticas de gestão da informação, mais quantitativas que qualitativas, deixam num segundo plano o processamento intelectual do conteúdo prejudicando, desta maneira, a recuperação por assuntos através do catalogo da biblioteca. Finalmente, se recolhe uma serie de propostas docentes relacionadas com a atribuição de descritores de assuntos em contextos bibliotecários.

Perspectivas metodológicas para a identificação do aboutness em textos narrativos de ficção

Proposal of a theoretical and methodological use of the generative meaning trajectory postulated by Greimas with the intention of developing a methodology for the identification of concepts in narrative texts of fiction to facilitate its subject indexing and classification.

Estudio observacional del contexto sociocognitivo de la catalogación de matérias em bibliotecas universitárias

A study of the subject indexing process in university libraries is presented, using a socio-cognitive approach to analyze the procedures, difficulties and perceptions of the librarians, users, and managers that take part in the process. Individual and group verbal protocols were applied in the real environment of the cataloguers, the university libraries. The results were the absence of systematic procedures for book subject analysis and representation, the incompatibility of the indexing language, and problems in subject retrieval from the catalog. It is concluded that there is a tendency in catalogs to act as databases. Therefore, the cataloguer should present a level of commitment in his task similar to that of an indexer who works in the production of bibliographic databases.

Perspectivas metodológicas para a identificação do aboutness em textos narrativos de ficção

Proposal of a theoretical and methodological use of the generative meaning trajectory postulated by Greimas with the intention of developing a methodology for the identification of concepts in narrative texts of fiction to facilitate its subject indexing and classification.

Avaliação da indexação em catálogos de bibliotecas universitárias por meio da recuperação da informação

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Male Homosexuality in Brazilian Indexing Languages: Some Ethical Questions

Studies on ethics in information organization have deeply contributed to the recognition of the social dimension of Information Science. The subject approach to information is linked to an ethical dimension because one of its major concerns is related to its reliability and usefulness in a specific discursive community or knowledge domain. In this direction, we propose, through an exploratory research design with qualitative and inductive characteristics, to identify the specific terminology that Brazilian indexing languages allow for terms relating to male homosexuality. We also analyzed the terms assigned to papers published in the Journal of Homosexuality, Sexualities and Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health between the years 2005 to 2009. From this analysis of terms and the Brazilian indexing languages, we see (1) the Brazilian context, (2) imprecision in the terminology, (3) indications of prejudices disseminated by political correctness, (4) biased representation of the subject matter, (5) and the presence of figures of speech.

Limnology of Macrobrachium amazonicum grow-out ponds subject to high inflow of nutrient-rich water and different stocking and harvest management

We evaluated the water characteristics and particle sedimentation in Macrobrachium amazonicum (Heller 1862) grow-out ponds supplied with a high inflow of nutrient-rich water. Prawns were subject to different stocking and harvesting strategies: upper-graded juveniles, lower-graded juveniles, non-graded juveniles + selective harvesting and traditional farming (non-grading juveniles and total harvest only). Dissolved oxygen, afternoon N-ammonia and N-nitrate and soluble orthophosphate were lower in the ponds in comparison with inflow water through the rearing cycle. Ponds stocked with the upper population fraction of graded prawns showed higher turbidity, total suspended solids and total Kjeldahl nitrogen than the remaining treatments. An increase in the chemical oxygen demand:biochemical oxygen demand ratio from inlet (4.9) to pond (7.1-8.0) waters indicated a non-readily biodegradable fraction enhancement in ponds. The sedimentation mean rate ranged from 0.08 to 0.16 mm day(-1) and sediment contained >80% of organic matter. The major factors affecting pond ecosystem dynamic were the organic load (due to primary production and feed addition) and bioturbation caused by stocking larger animals. Data suggest that M. amazonicum grow-out in ponds subjected to a high inflow of nutrient-rich water produce changes in the water properties, huge accumulation of organic sediment at the pond bottom and non-readily biodegradable material in the water column. However, the water quality remains suitable for aquaculture purposes. Therefore, nutrient-rich waters, when available, may represent a source of unpaid nutrients, which may be incorporated into economically valued biomass if managed properly.

Powder Diffraction of Components Subject to Corrosion in Fuse Cutouts with CeramicInsulation

Aiming identification of the components most affected by corrosion under saline environment conditions, we have carried out X-ray diffraction measurements in ceramic and bond materials, all in the powder form. The ceramic is analyzed before and after thermal annealing at 1000 degrees C, showing the same DRX peaks, although better defined after annealing. Identification suggests the presence of Al(6)Si(2)O(13) (Mullite) and SiO(2) (Quartz). Analysis of the junction (bond) material shows similar peaks, but a metallic preponderance is observed. Thermal annealing of the junction is done at much lower temperature, because it melts in the range 135 degrees C-170 degrees C, when a whitish smoke begins to show up along with strong sulfur odor.

A neural system to robust Nonlinear optimization subject to disjoint and constrained sets

The ability of neural networks to realize some complex nonlinear function makes them attractive for system identification. This paper describes a novel method using artificial neural networks to solve robust parameter estimation problems for nonlinear models with unknown-but-bounded errors and uncertainties. More specifically, a modified Hopfield network is developed and its internal parameters are computed using the valid-subspace technique. These parameters guarantee the network convergence to the equilibrium points. A solution for the robust estimation problem with unknown-but-bounded error corresponds to an equilibrium point of the network. Simulation results are presented as an illustration of the proposed approach.

Attitude stability of artificial satellites subject to gravity gradient torque

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Consistência na indexação em bibliotecas universitárias brasileiras

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the consistency indexes among 30 Brazilian university libraries from the south and south-east regions through a specific mathematical formula. It was selected a sample of 30 university libraries that, according to the information in their official sites, have a collection consisted of more than 100.000 copies and allow the search into the on-line catalog. Searches were carried out in every university by means of their sites, requesting books that contained a certain word in its title and were printed in a certain year. The response was a list of available titles in the library, from which we chose at random a title and asked to visualize the complete record to verify the existence of a given subject. This procedure was repeated until we found the same title in five libraries with the chosen subjects. The result is 10 trials, each one consisting of one figure and one table showing the selected libraries, the subjects, the documentary languages ( tools) and the consistency indexes relaxed and rigid. These trials show great discrepancy between the values of consistency indexes with intervals between 73,3% to 34,4% in the relaxed index, and between 60% and 9,6% in the rigid one. It was revealed that the coincidence in determining the subjects is not too high remaining below 39%. It is concluded that the difference between the consistency indexes may be due to factors as: incompatibility among documentary languages; lack of updating of these languages so as to follow the knowledge evolution; absence of a well-defined indexing policy with guidelines clearly established. Procedures of indexing followed by indexers could contribute to the consistency index to be bigger in percentage, since there would be parameters for the indexing process.

Technique for Indexing an Immediate Loading Implant Position for a Provisional Restoration

The transfer of an intraoral implant position to the cast for an immediate loading implant is an important step and may be difficult to achieve with commonly used transfer and impression methods. Thus, the purpose of this report is to describe a technique for the use of a surgical template to transfer the implant position for fabrication of a provisional restoration. This technique simplifies the procedure, eliminates the need for taking an impression, avoids surgical site contamination, and maintains an adequate emergence profile during fabrication of the definitive restoration. An indexing technique for transferring the position of the implant from the treated surface after extraction is described.

Nutritional composition, phenolic compounds, nitrate content in eatable vegetables obtained by conventional and certified organic grown culture subject to thermal treatment

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)