Usefulness of social tagging in organizing and providing access to the web: An analysis of indexing consistency and quality

This dissertation research points out major challenging problems with current Knowledge Organization (KO) systems, such as subject gateways or web directories: (1) the current systems use traditional knowledge organization systems based on controlled vocabulary which is not very well suited to web resources, and (2) information is organized by professionals not by users, which means it does not reflect intuitively and instantaneously expressed users’ current needs. In order to explore users’ needs, I examined social tags which are user-generated uncontrolled vocabulary. As investment in professionally-developed subject gateways and web directories diminishes (support for both BUBL and Intute, examined in this study, is being discontinued), understanding characteristics of social tagging becomes even more critical. Several researchers have discussed social tagging behavior and its usefulness for classification or retrieval; however, further research is needed to qualitatively and quantitatively investigate social tagging in order to verify its quality and benefit. This research particularly examined the indexing consistency of social tagging in comparison to professional indexing to examine the quality and efficacy of tagging. The data analysis was divided into three phases: analysis of indexing consistency, analysis of tagging effectiveness, and analysis of tag attributes. Most indexing consistency studies have been conducted with a small number of professional indexers, and they tended to exclude users. Furthermore, the studies mainly have focused on physical library collections. This dissertation research bridged these gaps by (1) extending the scope of resources to various web documents indexed by users and (2) employing the Information Retrieval (IR) Vector Space Model (VSM) - based indexing consistency method since it is suitable for dealing with a large number of indexers. As a second phase, an analysis of tagging effectiveness with tagging exhaustivity and tag specificity was conducted to ameliorate the drawbacks of consistency analysis based on only the quantitative measures of vocabulary matching. Finally, to investigate tagging pattern and behaviors, a content analysis on tag attributes was conducted based on the FRBR model. The findings revealed that there was greater consistency over all subjects among taggers compared to that for two groups of professionals. The analysis of tagging exhaustivity and tag specificity in relation to tagging effectiveness was conducted to ameliorate difficulties associated with limitations in the analysis of indexing consistency based on only the quantitative measures of vocabulary matching. Examination of exhaustivity and specificity of social tags provided insights into particular characteristics of tagging behavior and its variation across subjects. To further investigate the quality of tags, a Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) was conducted to determine to what extent tags are conceptually related to professionals’ keywords and it was found that tags of higher specificity tended to have a higher semantic relatedness to professionals’ keywords. This leads to the conclusion that the term’s power as a differentiator is related to its semantic relatedness to documents. The findings on tag attributes identified the important bibliographic attributes of tags beyond describing subjects or topics of a document. The findings also showed that tags have essential attributes matching those defined in FRBR. Furthermore, in terms of specific subject areas, the findings originally identified that taggers exhibited different tagging behaviors representing distinctive features and tendencies on web documents characterizing digital heterogeneous media resources. These results have led to the conclusion that there should be an increased awareness of diverse user needs by subject in order to improve metadata in practical applications. This dissertation research is the first necessary step to utilize social tagging in digital information organization by verifying the quality and efficacy of social tagging. This dissertation research combined both quantitative (statistics) and qualitative (content analysis using FRBR) approaches to vocabulary analysis of tags which provided a more complete examination of the quality of tags. Through the detailed analysis of tag properties undertaken in this dissertation, we have a clearer understanding of the extent to which social tagging can be used to replace (and in some cases to improve upon) professional indexing.

Modeling height-diameter relationship in pinus pinaster ait. in the forest intervention zone of Lomba, NE-Portugal

In this work, the relationship between diameter at breast height (d) and total height (h) of individual-tree was modeled with the aim to establish provisory height-diameter (h-d) equations for maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) stands in the Lomba ZIF, Northeast Portugal. Using data collected locally, several local and generalized h-d equations from the literature were tested and adaptations were also considered. Model fitting was conducted by using usual nonlinear least squares (nls) methods. The best local and generalized models selected, were also tested as mixed models applying a first-order conditional expectation (FOCE) approximation procedure and maximum likelihood methods to estimate fixed and random effects. For the calibration of the mixed models and in order to be consistent with the fitting procedure, the FOCE method was also used to test different sampling designs. The results showed that the local h-d equations with two parameters performed better than the analogous models with three parameters. However a unique set of parameter values for the local model can not be used to all maritime pine stands in Lomba ZIF and thus, a generalized model including covariates from the stand, in addition to d, was necessary to obtain an adequate predictive performance. No evident superiority of the generalized mixed model in comparison to the generalized model with nonlinear least squares parameters estimates was observed. On the other hand, in the case of the local model, the predictive performance greatly improved when random effects were included. The results showed that the mixed model based in the local h-d equation selected is a viable alternative for estimating h if variables from the stand are not available. Moreover, it was observed that it is possible to obtain an adequate calibrated response using only 2 to 5 additional h-d measurements in quantile (or random) trees from the distribution of d in the plot (stand). Balancing sampling effort, accuracy and straightforwardness in practical applications, the generalized model from nls fit is recommended. Examples of applications of the selected generalized equation to the forest management are presented, namely how to use it to complete missing information from forest inventory and also showing how such an equation can be incorporated in a stand-level decision support system that aims to optimize the forest management for the maximization of wood volume production in Lomba ZIF maritime pine stands.

Abordagem rítmica probabilística aplicada em análises de fluxo e estabilidade de taludes

Tese (doutorado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Tecnologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geotecnia, 2015.

Wie denken Lehrer*innen über (das Unterrichten von) Musiktheorie?

Teaching music theory is an essential, yet a barely researched part of music education in secondary schools. This paper examines the expert knowledge of Bavarian teachers regarding this subject After discussing the background and the methodology of this study the differences among the music teachers' understanding of "music theory" are illustrated with three examples: While all three interviewees agree that music theory is a set of specific knowledge, they differ by a) locating it in the non-practical, b) connecting it with practical applications or c) isolating it as knowledge, that, at first, has to be learned in isolation. These conceptions of music theory can be understood as intrinsically connected with didactic assumptions and are founded in the teachers' biographies. (DIPF/Orig.)

Improving bioactive compounds extractability of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson

Elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson) is an underground, unbranched deciduous plant that produces a large tubercle (rhizome) with recognized health effects. In this study, the influence of solvent nature (water, water/etanol (1:1) and absolute ethanol) and processing type (fresh, lyophilized and boiled) on the antioxidant activity and bioactive compounds extractability of elephant foot yam was evaluated. Extracts were compared for their contents in total phenolics, flavonoids and tannins. Moreover, their antioxidant capacity was assessed by the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH▪) scavenging capacity assays. Phenolics (154 mg GAE/L) and tannins (109 mg GAE/L) were maximized in lyophilized samples extracted with the hydroalcoholic solvent, which attained also the highest FRAP value (711 mg FSE/L). In turn, flavonoids reached the highest yields in lyophilized samples (95 mg ECE/L) extracted with pure ethanol, as well as the highest DPPH▪ scavenging activity. These findings might have practical applications to define the best processing methodology regarding the enhancement of elephant foot yam, either for prompt consumption, as well as to develop food supplements or pharmaceutical related products.

Síntese e caracterização de óxidos de cério e cobalto obtidos por gel-combustão e Pechini aplicados às reações de oxidação de n-hexano

Oxide type spinel AB2O4 presents structure adjusted for application in the automobile industry. The spinel of cobalt has many practical applications had its excellent physical and chemical properties such as catalyst in hydrocarbon oxidation reaction. The CeO2 has been used in many of these processes because it assigns to a material with excellent thermal resistance and mechanics, high capacity of oxygen stockage (OSC) among others properties. This work deals with the synthesis, characterization and catalytic application of spinel of cobalt and CeO2 with fluorita structure, obtained for method of Pechini and method of Gel-Combustion. The process of Pechini, the puff was obtained at 300 ºC for 2 h in air. In the process of Gel-Combustion the approximately at 350 ºC material was prepared and burnt for Pyrolysis, both had been calcined at 500 ºC, 700 ºC, 900 ºC and 1050 ºC for 2 h in air. The materials of the calcinations had been characterized by TG/DTA, electronic microscopy of sweepings (MEV), spectroscopy of absorption in the infra-red ray (FTIR) and diffraction of X-rays (DRX). The obtained material reaches the phase oxide at 450 oC for Pechini method and 500 °C for combustion method. The samples were submitted catalytic reaction of n-hexane on superficies of materials. The reactor function in molar ration of 0, 85 mol.h-1.g-1 and temperature of system was 450 °C. The sample obtained for Pechini and support in alumine of superficial area of 178,63 m2.g-1 calcined at 700 ºC, give results of catalytic conversions of 39 % and the sample obtained for method of gel-combustion and support in alumina of 150 mesh calcined at 500 ºC result 13 % of conversion. Both method were selective specie C1

Self-Organizing Map Neural Architectures Based on Limit Cycle Attractors

Recent efforts to develop large-scale neural architectures have paid relatively little attention to the use of self-organizing maps (SOMs). Part of the reason is that most conventional SOMs use a static encoding representation: Each input is typically represented by the fixed activation of a single node in the map layer. This not only carries information in an inefficient and unreliable way that impedes building robust multi-SOM neural architectures, but it is also inconsistent with rhythmic oscillations in biological neural networks. Here I develop and study an alternative encoding scheme that instead uses limit cycle attractors of multi-focal activity patterns to represent input patterns/sequences. Such a fundamental change in representation raises several questions: Can this be done effectively and reliably? If so, will map formation still occur? What properties would limit cycle SOMs exhibit? Could multiple such SOMs interact effectively? Could robust architectures based on such SOMs be built for practical applications? The principal results of examining these questions are as follows. First, conditions are established for limit cycle attractors to emerge in a SOM through self-organization when encoding both static and temporal sequence inputs. It is found that under appropriate conditions a set of learned limit cycles are stable, unique, and preserve input relationships. In spite of the continually changing activity in a limit cycle SOM, map formation continues to occur reliably. Next, associations between limit cycles in different SOMs are learned. It is shown that limit cycles in one SOM can be successfully retrieved by another SOM’s limit cycle activity. Control timings can be set quite arbitrarily during both training and activation. Importantly, the learned associations generalize to new inputs that have never been seen during training. Finally, a complete neural architecture based on multiple limit cycle SOMs is presented for robotic arm control. This architecture combines open-loop and closed-loop methods to achieve high accuracy and fast movements through smooth trajectories. The architecture is robust in that disrupting or damaging the system in a variety of ways does not completely destroy the system. I conclude that limit cycle SOMs have great potentials for use in constructing robust neural architectures.

A medida e as escalas de avaliação da saúde das populações neonatais e pediátricas : estudo de simulação de Monte Carlo com variáveis ordinais

A investigação na área da saúde e a utilização dos seus resultados tem funcionado como base para a melhoria da qualidade de cuidados, exigindo dos profissionais de saúde conhecimentos na área específica onde desempenham funções, conhecimentos em metodologia de investigação que incluam as técnicas de observação, técnicas de recolha e análise de dados, para mais facilmente serem leitores capacitados dos resultados da investigação. Os profissionais de saúde são observadores privilegiados das respostas humanas à saúde e à doença, podendo contribuir para o desenvolvimento e bem-estar dos indivíduos muitas vezes em situações de grande vulnerabilidade. Em saúde infantil e pediatria o enfoque está nos cuidados centrados na família privilegiando-se o desenvolvimento harmonioso da criança e jovem, valorizando os resultados mensuráveis em saúde que permitam determinar a eficácia das intervenções e a qualidade de saúde e de vida. No contexto pediátrico realçamos as práticas baseadas na evidência, a importância atribuída à pesquisa e à aplicação dos resultados da investigação nas práticas clínicas, assim como o desenvolvimento de instrumentos de mensuração padronizados, nomeadamente as escalas de avaliação, de ampla utilização clínica, que facilitam a apreciação e avaliação do desenvolvimento e da saúde das crianças e jovens e resultem em ganhos em saúde. A observação de forma sistematizada das populações neonatais e pediátricas com escalas de avaliação tem vindo a aumentar, o que tem permitido um maior equilíbrio na avaliação das crianças e também uma observação baseada na teoria e nos resultados da investigação. Alguns destes aspetos serviram de base ao desenvolvimento deste trabalho que pretende dar resposta a 3 objetivos fundamentais. Para dar resposta ao primeiro objetivo, “Identificar na literatura científica, os testes estatísticos mais frequentemente utilizados pelos investigadores da área da saúde infantil e pediatria quando usam escalas de avaliação” foi feita uma revisão sistemática da literatura, que tinha como objetivo analisar artigos científicos cujos instrumentos de recolha de dados fossem escalas de avaliação, na área da saúde da criança e jovem, desenvolvidas com variáveis ordinais, e identificar os testes estatísticos aplicados com estas variáveis. A análise exploratória dos artigos permitiu-nos verificar que os investigadores utilizam diferentes instrumentos com diferentes formatos de medida ordinal (com 3, 4, 5, 7, 10 pontos) e tanto aplicam testes paramétricos como não paramétricos, ou os dois em simultâneo, com este tipo de variáveis, seja qual for a dimensão da amostra. A descrição da metodologia nem sempre explicita se são cumpridas as assunções dos testes. Os artigos consultados nem sempre fazem referência à distribuição de frequência das variáveis (simetria/assimetria) nem à magnitude das correlações entre os itens. A leitura desta bibliografia serviu de suporte à elaboração de dois artigos, um de revisão sistemática da literatura e outro de reflexão teórica. Apesar de terem sido encontradas algumas respostas às dúvidas com que os investigadores e os profissionais, que trabalham com estes instrumentos, se deparam, verifica-se a necessidade de desenvolver estudos de simulação que confirmem algumas situações reais e alguma teoria já existente, e trabalhem outros aspetos nos quais se possam enquadrar os cenários reais de forma a facilitar a tomada de decisão dos investigadores e clínicos que utilizam escalas de avaliação. Para dar resposta ao segundo objetivo “Comparar a performance, em termos de potência e probabilidade de erro de tipo I, das 4 estatísticas da MANOVA paramétrica com 2 estatísticas da MANOVA não paramétrica quando se utilizam variáveis ordinais correlacionadas, geradas aleatoriamente”, desenvolvemos um estudo de simulação, através do Método de Monte Carlo, efetuado no Software R. O delineamento do estudo de simulação incluiu um vetor com 3 variáveis dependentes, uma variável independente (fator com três grupos), escalas de avaliação com um formato de medida com 3, 4, 5, e 7 pontos, diferentes probabilidades marginais (p1 para distribuição simétrica, p2 para distribuição assimétrica positiva, p3 para distribuição assimétrica negativa e p4 para distribuição uniforme) em cada um dos três grupos, correlações de baixa, média e elevada magnitude (r=0.10, r=0.40, r=0.70, respetivamente), e seis dimensões de amostras (n=30, 60, 90, 120, 240, 300). A análise dos resultados permitiu dizer que a maior raiz de Roy foi a estatística que apresentou estimativas de probabilidade de erro de tipo I e de potência de teste mais elevadas. A potência dos testes apresenta comportamentos diferentes, dependendo da distribuição de frequência da resposta aos itens, da magnitude das correlações entre itens, da dimensão da amostra e do formato de medida da escala. Tendo por base a distribuição de frequência, considerámos três situações distintas: a primeira (com probabilidades marginais p1,p1,p4 e p4,p4,p1) em que as estimativas da potência eram muito baixas, nos diferentes cenários; a segunda situação (com probabilidades marginais p2,p3,p4; p1,p2,p3 e p2,p2,p3) em que a magnitude das potências é elevada, nas amostras com dimensão superior ou igual a 60 observações e nas escalas com 3, 4,5 pontos e potências de magnitude menos elevada nas escalas com 7 pontos, mas com a mesma ma magnitude nas amostras com dimensão igual a 120 observações, seja qual for o cenário; a terceira situação (com probabilidades marginais p1,p1,p2; p1,p2,p4; p2,p2,p1; p4,p4,p2 e p2,p2,p4) em que quanto maiores, a intensidade das correlações entre itens e o número de pontos da escala, e menor a dimensão das amostras, menor a potência dos testes, sendo o lambda de Wilks aplicado às ordens mais potente do que todas as outra s estatísticas da MANOVA, com valores imediatamente a seguir à maior raiz de Roy. No entanto, a magnitude das potências dos testes paramétricos e não paramétricos assemelha-se nas amostras com dimensão superior a 90 observações (com correlações de baixa e média magnitude), entre as variáveis dependentes nas escalas com 3, 4 e 5 pontos; e superiores a 240 observações, para correlações de baixa intensidade, nas escalas com 7 pontos. No estudo de simulação e tendo por base a distribuição de frequência, concluímos que na primeira situação de simulação e para os diferentes cenários, as potências são de baixa magnitude devido ao facto de a MANOVA não detetar diferenças entre grupos pela sua similaridade. Na segunda situação de simulação e para os diferentes cenários, a magnitude das potências é elevada em todos os cenários cuja dimensão da amostra seja superior a 60 observações, pelo que é possível aplicar testes paramétricos. Na terceira situação de simulação, e para os diferentes cenários quanto menor a dimensão da amostra e mais elevada a intensidade das correlações e o número de pontos da escala, menor a potência dos testes, sendo a magnitude das potências mais elevadas no teste de Wilks aplicado às ordens, seguido do traço de Pillai aplicado às ordens. No entanto, a magnitude das potências dos testes paramétricos e não paramétricos assemelha-se nas amostras com maior dimensão e correlações de baixa e média magnitude. Para dar resposta ao terceiro objetivo “Enquadrar os resultados da aplicação da MANOVA paramétrica e da MANOVA não paramétrica a dados reais provenientes de escalas de avaliação com um formato de medida com 3, 4, 5 e 7 pontos, nos resultados do estudo de simulação estatística” utilizaram-se dados reais que emergiram da observação de recém-nascidos com a escala de avaliação das competências para a alimentação oral, Early Feeding Skills (EFS), o risco de lesões da pele, com a Neonatal Skin Risk Assessment Scale (NSRAS), e a avaliação da independência funcional em crianças e jovens com espinha bífida, com a Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Para fazer a análise destas escalas foram realizadas 4 aplicações práticas que se enquadrassem nos cenários do estudo de simulação. A idade, o peso, e o nível de lesão medular foram as variáveis independentes escolhidas para selecionar os grupos, sendo os recém-nascidos agrupados por “classes de idade gestacional” e por “classes de peso” as crianças e jovens com espinha bífida por “classes etárias” e “níveis de lesão medular”. Verificou-se um bom enquadramento dos resultados com dados reais no estudo de simulação.

Injeção de vapor e solvente como um método de recuperação avançada em reservatório avançada em reservatórios de óleo pesado

Currently a resource more and more used by the petroleum industry to increase the efficiency of steam flood mechanism is the addition of solvents. The process can be understood as a combination of a thermal method (steam injection) with a miscible method (solvent injection), promoting, thus, the reduction of interfacial tensions and oil viscosity. The use of solvent alone tends to be limited because of its high cost. When co-injected with steam, the vaporized solvent condenses in the cooler regions of the reservoir and mixes with the oil, creating a zone of low viscosity between the steam and the heavy oil. The mobility of the displaced fluid is then improved, resulting in an increase of oil recovery. To better understand this improved oil recovery method, a numerical study of the process was done contemplating the effects of some operational parameters (distance between wells, injection steam rate, kind of solvent and injected solvent volume)on the accumulated production of oil, recovery factor and oil-steam rate. Semisynthetic models were used in this study but reservoir data can be extrapolated for practical applications situations on Potiguar Basin. Simulations were performed in STARS (CMG, 2007.11). It was found that injected solvent volumes increased oil recovery and oil rates. Further the majority of the injected solvent was produced and can be recycled

Revisión metodológica para escribir y publicar casos clínicos: aplicaciones en el ámbito de la nutrición

Introducción: en la actualidad, los casos clínicos suponen una importante herramienta docente con aplicaciones prácticas y contribuyen a la expansión del conocimiento de los profesionales de la salud. Objetivos: revisar la metodología de elaboración de casos clínicos, mostrando las similitudes y diferencias en los criterios de formato y contenido que son solicitados para que los reportes de casos sean publicados. Metodología: revisión bibliográfica en PubMed y Scielo entre 2005-2015, y rastreo manual de aquellas referencias más relevantes de los artículos seleccionados. Criterios de inclusión: artículos originales/revisiones bibliográficas en inglés/español/portugués publicados en cualquier país y que incluyan guías o recomendaciones sobre la redacción de casos clínicos. Resultados: se encontraron 131 artículos, de ellos, 20 cumplieron los criterios de inclusión, añadiendo cinco artículos por rastreo manual. Las variables descritas fueron: objetivo, recomendaciones y conclusiones, presentadas en tres tablas: 1. Publicaciones referentes internacionales; 2. Revistas internacionales y 3. Revistas latinoamericanas. Discusión: existen referentes internacionales que proporcionan directrices muy concretas cuando se precisa escribir y publicar un caso clínico. Tanto los referentes internacionales como las recomendaciones analizadas son coincidentes en su utilidad, aunque no existe una estandarización en su metodología. Son muy pocas las directrices que mencionan incluir el tratamiento dietético, el seguimiento y la evolución del mismo durante la situación clínica. Conclusiones: se recomienda a los autores interesados en describir un caso clínico cuyo tratamiento sea principalmente nutricional, seguir una guía ajustada a la situación clínica a presentar, siendo la guía CARE una buena opción.

Estudo comparativo do desempenho de controladores robustos aplicados a um sistema de tanques acoplados.

Currently the uncertain system has attracted much academic community from the standpoint of scientific research and also practical applications. A series of mathematical approaches emerge in order to troubleshoot the uncertainties of real physical systems. In this context, the work presented here focuses on the application of control theory in a nonlinear dynamical system with parametric variations in order and robustness. We used as the practical application of this work, a system of tanks Quanser associates, in a configuration, whose mathematical model is represented by a second order system with input and output (SISO). The control system is performed by PID controllers, designed by various techniques, aiming to achieve robust performance and stability when subjected to parameter variations. Other controllers are designed with the intention of comparing the performance and robust stability of such systems. The results are obtained and compared from simulations in Matlab-simulink.

Analyse et représentation de la variation terminologique et de la multidimentionalité dans un thésaurus : le cas du métalangage de la terminologie

Le présent travail consiste à proposer un modèle de représentation des notions théoriques et pratiques de la terminologie et de leurs relations sous forme de thésaurus. Selon la norme ISO 25964-1, 2011, « un thésaurus est un vocabulaire contrôlé et structuré dans lequel les concepts sont représentés par des termes, ayant été organisés afin de rendre explicites les relations entre les concepts (…) ». Notre objectif est de créer un outil pédagogique à la suite d’une réflexion théorique englobant différentes perspectives notionnelles au sein de cette discipline. Les enjeux soulevés par la classification des concepts de certains champs de savoir (notamment ceux donnant lieu à différentes perspectives) n’ont pas été approfondis suffisamment dans la littérature de la terminologie, ni dans celle portant sur les thésaurus. Comment décrire des concepts qui sont sujets à des dissensions théoriques entre les différentes écoles de pensée? Comment classer les différentes relations entretenues par les concepts théoriques et les applications pratiques d’une discipline? À ces questions s’ajoute celle de la prise en compte de ces difficultés dans un thésaurus. Nous commençons par délimiter et organiser les concepts saillants du domaine. Ensuite, à l’aide d’un corpus comprenant des publications associées à différentes approches de la terminologie, nous étudions les réalisations linguistiques de ces concepts et leurs relations en contexte, dans le but de les décrire, de les classer et de les définir. Puis, nous faisons l’encodage de ces données à l’aide d’un logiciel de gestion de thésaurus, en respectant les normes ISO applicables. La dernière étape consiste à définir la visualisation de ces données afin de la rendre conviviale et compréhensible. Enfin, nous présentons les caractéristiques fondamentales du Thésaurus de la terminologie. Nous avons analysé et représenté un échantillon de 45 concepts et leurs termes reliés. Les différents phénomènes associés à ces descripteurs comme la multidimensionalité, la variation conceptuelle et la variation dénominative sont aussi représentés dans notre thésaurus.

Analyse et représentation de la variation terminologique et de la multidimentionalité dans un thésaurus : le cas du métalangage de la terminologie

Le présent travail consiste à proposer un modèle de représentation des notions théoriques et pratiques de la terminologie et de leurs relations sous forme de thésaurus. Selon la norme ISO 25964-1, 2011, « un thésaurus est un vocabulaire contrôlé et structuré dans lequel les concepts sont représentés par des termes, ayant été organisés afin de rendre explicites les relations entre les concepts (…) ». Notre objectif est de créer un outil pédagogique à la suite d’une réflexion théorique englobant différentes perspectives notionnelles au sein de cette discipline. Les enjeux soulevés par la classification des concepts de certains champs de savoir (notamment ceux donnant lieu à différentes perspectives) n’ont pas été approfondis suffisamment dans la littérature de la terminologie, ni dans celle portant sur les thésaurus. Comment décrire des concepts qui sont sujets à des dissensions théoriques entre les différentes écoles de pensée? Comment classer les différentes relations entretenues par les concepts théoriques et les applications pratiques d’une discipline? À ces questions s’ajoute celle de la prise en compte de ces difficultés dans un thésaurus. Nous commençons par délimiter et organiser les concepts saillants du domaine. Ensuite, à l’aide d’un corpus comprenant des publications associées à différentes approches de la terminologie, nous étudions les réalisations linguistiques de ces concepts et leurs relations en contexte, dans le but de les décrire, de les classer et de les définir. Puis, nous faisons l’encodage de ces données à l’aide d’un logiciel de gestion de thésaurus, en respectant les normes ISO applicables. La dernière étape consiste à définir la visualisation de ces données afin de la rendre conviviale et compréhensible. Enfin, nous présentons les caractéristiques fondamentales du Thésaurus de la terminologie. Nous avons analysé et représenté un échantillon de 45 concepts et leurs termes reliés. Les différents phénomènes associés à ces descripteurs comme la multidimensionalité, la variation conceptuelle et la variation dénominative sont aussi représentés dans notre thésaurus.

Composites Chitosan/SBA-15 with sulfonic acid as heterogeneous catalysts for biodiesel production

Free fatty acids (palmitic, stearic and oleic acid) were converted into biodiesel with methanol over composites catalysts consisting in SBA-15 with sulfonic acid groups (SBA-15-SO3H) immobilized in Chitosan (CH), at 60ºC. It was observed that the catalytic activity increased with the amount of SBA-15-SO3H dispersed in CH. It was also observed that the catalytic activity decreased in the series: palmitic acid > stearic acid > oleic. The catalytic stability of [SBA-15-SO3H]3/CH composites was studied. A good stability was observed.

Análise não linear de séries temporais e aplicações à Psicologia

Nesta dissertação estudámos as séries temporais que representam a complexa dinâmica do comportamento. Demos especial atenção às técnicas de dinâmica não linear. As técnicas fornecem-nos uma quantidade de índices quantitativos que servem para descrever as propriedades dinâmicas do sistema. Estes índices têm sido intensivamente usados nos últimos anos em aplicações práticas em Psicologia. Estudámos alguns conceitos básicos de dinâmica não linear, as características dos sistemas caóticos e algumas grandezas que caracterizam os sistemas dinâmicos, que incluem a dimensão fractal, que indica a complexidade de informação contida na série temporal, os expoentes de Lyapunov, que indicam a taxa com que pontos arbitrariamente próximos no espaço de fases da representação do espaço dinâmico, divergem ao longo do tempo, ou a entropia aproximada, que mede o grau de imprevisibilidade de uma série temporal. Esta informação pode então ser usada para compreender, e possivelmente prever, o comportamento. ABSTRACT: ln this thesis we studied the time series that represent the complex dynamic behavior. We focused on techniques of nonlinear dynamics. The techniques provide us a number of quantitative indices used to describe the dynamic properties of the system. These indices have been extensively used in recent years in practical applications in psychology. We studied some basic concepts of nonlinear dynamics, the characteristics of chaotic systems and some quantities that characterize the dynamic systems, including fractal dimension, indicating the complexity of information in the series, the Lyapunov exponents, which indicate the rate at that arbitrarily dose points in phase space representation of a dynamic, vary over time, or the approximate entropy, which measures the degree of unpredictability of a series. This information can then be used to understand and possibly predict the behavior.