Methods for Automatic Evaluation of Sentence Extract Summaries

This paper describes three novel techniques to automatically evaluate sentence extract summaries. Two of these techniques called FuSE and DeFuSE evaluate the quality of the generated extract summary based on the degree of similarity to the model summary. They use a fuzzy set theoretic basis to generate a match score. DeFuSE is an enhancement to FuSE and uses WordNet based hypernymy structures to detect similarity between sentences at abstracted levels. The third technique focuses on quantifying the quality of an extract summary based on the difficulty in generating such a summary. Advantages of these techniques are described with examples.

Sentence comprehension before and after 1970: Topics, debates and techniques

[EN] Language Down the Garden Path traces the lines of research that grew out of Bever's classic paper. Leading scientists review over 40 years of debates on the factors at play in language comprehension, production, and acquisition (the role of prediction, grammar, working memory, prosody, abstractness, syntax and semantics mapping); the current status of universals and narrow syntax; and virtually every topic relevant in psycholinguistics since 1970. Written in an accessible and engaging style, the book will appeal to all those interested in understanding the questions that shaped, and are still shaping, this field and the ways in which linguists, cognitive scientists, psychologists, and neuroscientists are seeking to answer them.

The role of the community service order and the suspended sentence in Ireland: a judicial perspective

Imprisonment is the most severe penalty utilised by the criminal courts in Ireland. In recent decades the prison population has grown significantly despite expressions both official and public to reduce the use of the sanction. Two other sanctions are available to the Irish sentencer which may be used as a direct and comparable sentence in lieu of a term of imprisonment namely, the community service order and the suspended sentence. The community service order remains under-utilised as an alternative to the custodial sentence. The suspended sentence is used quite liberally but its function may be more closely related to the aim of deterrence rather than avoiding the use of the custodial sentence. Thus the aim of decarceration may not be optimal in practice when either sanction is utilised. The decarcerative effect of either sanction is largely dependent upon the specific purpose which judges invest in the sanction. Judges may also be inhibited in the use of either sanction if they lack confidence that the sentence will be appropriately monitored and executed. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the role of the community service order and the suspended sentence in Irish sentencing practice. Although community service and the suspended sentence present primarily as alternatives to the custodial sentence, the manner in which the judges utilise or fail to utilise the sanctions may differ significantly from this primary manifestation. Therefore the study proceeds to examine the judges' cognitions and expectations of both sanctions to explore their underlying purposes and to reveal the manner in which the judges use the sanctions in practice. To access this previously undisclosed information a number of methodologies were deployed. An extensive literature review was conducted to delineate the purpose and functionality of both sanctions. Quantitative data was gathered by way of sampling for the suspended sentence and the part-suspended sentence where deficiencies were apparent to show the actual frequency in use of that sanction. Qualitative methodologies were used by way of focus groups and semi-structured interviews of judges at all jurisdictional levels to elucidate the purposes of both sanctions. These methods allowed a deeper investigation of the factors which may promote or inhibit such usage. The relative under-utilisation of the community service order as an alternative to the custodial sentence may in part be explained by a reluctance by some judges to equate it with a real custodial sentence. For most judges who use the sanction, particularly at summary level, community service serves a decarcerative function. The suspended sentence continues to be used extensively. It operates partly as a decarcerative penalty but the purpose of deterrence may in practice overtake its theoretical purpose namely the avoidance of custody. Despite ongoing criticism of executive agencies such as the Probation Service and the Prosecution in the supervision of such penalties both sanctions continue to be used. Engagement between the Criminal Justice actors may facilitate better outcomes in the use of either sanction. The purposes for which both sanctions are deployed find their meaning essentially in the practices of the judges themselves as opposed to any statutory or theoretical claims upon their use or purpose.

The Historical Use of Amnesties, Immunities, and Sentence Reductions in Northern Ireland

While it is widely believed that the use of amnesties and similar measures would mark a new departure in NI and the UK, so that speculation about their introduction causes public controversy and threatens political instability, the report demonstrates that such measures have in fact been repeatedly used in a wide range of circumstances since the foundation of the NI state. The paper offers definitions of the key measures which have been employed, including amnesties, sentence reductions linked to peace building and use immunities. It explores their historical use and its consequences.

« Les Croniques des Bretons, selon la sentence de GALFROY MONEMUTENSIS », traduction anonyme.

Commençant par : « Tout aussi comme se en moy estimoye science avoir et faconde de povoir souffire, descripre et revoquer à lumiere tous les fais vertueux... » et finissant par : «... Cy finent les Croniques des Bretons, contenant les gestes d'iceux depuis la venue de Brutus, nepveu de Eneas, jusques au temps du roy Cadwaladreth, qui regna l'an.V.C.IIII. XX. et.VIII.. ans apres l'Incarnacion Nostre Seigneur, selon la sentence de Galfroy Monemutensis, qui ce livre composa en latin par le commandement de tres noble et puissant prince Henry, roy d'Angleterre » .

Sentence burlesque (signée : Canabot)

[Mazarinade. 1649]

Factum pour dame Jeanne de Roffignac, veuve de... Mre Jean-Louis de Vassal de la Tourette... de Montviel... et Mre Louis de Roffignac de Sardiny... intimez... contre damoiselle Marguerite Ruin, femme de Charles Guyot, se disant aux droicts de Louis du Ponseau et Marie de Vernaison, qui se disoit seule... héritière de deffunte damoiselle Luce de Vernaison, légataire de deffunt Mre Paul de Sardiny, appellante d'une sentence rendue... le 12 janvier 1685... et contre les abbesse, prieure et convent de l'abbaye de Moncé, aussi appellantes...

[Factum. Sardiny, Paul de. 1685?]

Procès-verbal de saisie faite par les commis aux aydes [des Fermes Royales-Unies de France] sur le sieur Louis de Londre, marchand épicier à Paris, de six caisses remplies de bouteilles d'eau-de-senteur ou d'esprit-de-vin, prétendu être foiblement chargé d'odeur aromatique... et Sentence contradictoire rendue en l'Election de Paris, qui fait main-levée de ladite saisie, du 13 août 1750

[Acte. 1750-03-02. Paris]

Arrêt du grand conseil en faveur du Sr Loison, contre le Sr Royer, dit Saint-Laurent, garde du roi, confirmatif d'une sentence de la prévôté de l'hôtel qui condamne ledit Royer à payer au Sr Loison la somme de 3200 liv. contenue en sa reconnaissance du 8 août 1724

[Acte. 1730-08-22. Paris]