Improving the Lexicon of Positive/Negative Words and Bigrams for Sentiment Analysis

Report published in the Proceedings of the National Conference on "Education in the Information Society", Plovdiv, May, 2013

Topic Segmentation: How Much Can We Do by Counting Words and Sequences of Words

In this paper, we present an innovative topic segmentation system based on a new informative similarity measure that takes into account word co-occurrence in order to avoid the accessibility to existing linguistic resources such as electronic dictionaries or lexico-semantic databases such as thesauri or ontology. Topic segmentation is the task of breaking documents into topically coherent multi-paragraph subparts. Topic segmentation has extensively been used in information retrieval and text summarization. In particular, our architecture proposes a language-independent topic segmentation system that solves three main problems evidenced by previous research: systems based uniquely on lexical repetition that show reliability problems, systems based on lexical cohesion using existing linguistic resources that are usually available only for dominating languages and as a consequence do not apply to less favored languages and finally systems that need previously existing harvesting training data. For that purpose, we only use statistics on words and sequences of words based on a set of texts. This solution provides a flexible solution that may narrow the gap between dominating languages and less favored languages thus allowing equivalent access to information.

SG Pseudo-Differential Operators and Weak Hyperbolicity

2002 Mathematics Subject Classification: 35S05, 47G30, 58J42.

A Stochastic Approach for Finding of Semantically Related Words

2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 62P99, 68T50

Are school-of-thought words characterizable?

School of thought analysis is an important yet not-well-elaborated scientific knowledge discovery task. This paper makes the first attempt at this problem. We focus on one aspect of the problem: do characteristic school-of-thought words exist and whether they are characterizable? To answer these questions, we propose a probabilistic generative School-Of-Thought (SOT) model to simulate the scientific authoring process based on several assumptions. SOT defines a school of thought as a distribution of topics and assumes that authors determine the school of thought for each sentence before choosing words to deliver scientific ideas. SOT distinguishes between two types of school-of-thought words for either the general background of a school of thought or the original ideas each paper contributes to its school of thought. Narrative and quantitative experiments show positive and promising results to the questions raised above © 2013 Association for Computational Linguistics. © 2013 Association for Computational Linguistics.

Solutions Globales Régulières pour Quelques Équations Lineaires D'évolution du Type Pseudo-Différentiel Singulier

2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 35C15, 35D05, 35D10, 35S10, 35S99.

Totally Umbilical Pseudo-Slant Submanifolds of a Nearly Cosymplectic Manifold

2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 53C40, 53B25.

Implementation of pseudo J-integral based Paris’ law for fatigue cracking in asphalt mixtures and pavements

Pavement analysis and design for fatigue cracking involves a number of practical problems like material assessment/screening and performance prediction. A mechanics-aided method can answer these questions with satisfactory accuracy in a convenient way when it is appropriately implemented. This paper presents two techniques to implement the pseudo J-integral based Paris’ law to evaluate and predict fatigue cracking in asphalt mixtures and pavements. The first technique, quasi-elastic simulation, provides a rational and appropriate reference modulus for the pseudo analysis (i.e., viscoelastic to elastic conversion) by making use of the widely used material property: dynamic modulus. The physical significance of the quasi-elastic simulation is clarified. Introduction of this technique facilitates the implementation of the fracture mechanics models as well as continuum damage mechanics models to characterize fatigue cracking in asphalt pavements. The second technique about modeling fracture coefficients of the pseudo J-integral based Paris’ law simplifies the prediction of fatigue cracking without performing fatigue tests. The developed prediction models for the fracture coefficients rely on readily available mixture design properties that directly affect the fatigue performance, including the relaxation modulus, air void content, asphalt binder content, and aggregate gradation. Sufficient data are collected to develop such prediction models and the R2 values are around 0.9. The presented case studies serve as examples to illustrate how the pseudo J-integral based Paris’ law predicts fatigue resistance of asphalt mixtures and assesses fatigue performance of asphalt pavements. Future applications include the estimation of fatigue life of asphalt mixtures/pavements through a distinct criterion that defines fatigue failure by its physical significance.

More Than Words, Brand Destruction in the Online Sphere

The focus of this paper is brand destruction, however in a slightly different sense than the traditional marketing literature depicts it. The concept of brand destruction basically tends to be discussed either (1) as an accidental, counter-productive event in a campaign which leads to the ruining of the brand, or (2) an intentional act by competitors in the market, which results the same breakdown mentioned above. As this paper shows, there are other ways to consider as well, when speaking about brand destruction. An often overlooked type of brand destruction is a rather new phenomenon: destroying the brand by customers or business partners. The adequate scene for this case is the internet itself, especially different social media platforms, e. g. Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, etc. Also popular weblogs can play an important role in brand destruction made by customers or business partners (general cases related to social media are depicted in Lipsman – Mud – Rich – Bruich, 2012). This paper presents a couple of cases in the online field and focuses basically on online communicative activities, in which a brand’s negative properties come to discussion. Both Hungarian and foreign examples are easy to find and they all demonstrate the growing power of consumers. This observation led marketing experts to start talking about the ‘smooth seizure of power by consumers’. Whilst the critic of this concept is considered to be relevant, this paper describes the elements and methods of the ‘seizure’ – from an online social point of view. The key of handling brand destruction cases efficiently lies in the role of social media users. They are not only consumers, but the opportunity for producing online contents is in their hands as well – this fact results in the idea of ‘prosumers’. Thus customers on social media platforms must be handled as a ‘critical mass’: as civic warriors with strong weapons in their armoury. No companies are allowed to feel safe, as the slightest error may well be punished by the crowd.

Járadékteremtés és az áldemokráciák = Rent creation and pseudo-democracies

Tanulmányunkban egy olyan rendszerrel foglalkozunk, amely köztes helyet foglal el a demokrácia és az autokrácia között, mindkettő jegyeit magán viseli, és amelyet ezért áldemokráciának nevezünk. A rendszer működési sajátosságait a járadékok szemszögéből vizsgáljuk, és arra keressük a választ, hogy demokratikus országokban hogyan képes egy párt tartósan domináns pozícióban maradni. Modellünk segítségével összekapcsoljuk a járadékteremtést a szavazatok maximalizálásának céljával, és bemutatjuk, miért jelenthet racionális döntést a hatalmon lévők számára a rövid távú optimumon túlmutató járadékteremtés is. A modell rávilágít arra, hogy a többletjáradékok segítségével a kormányzat - klientúrája megerősítése, a demokratikus rendszer határainak feszegetése, valamint az ellenzék visszaszorítása révén - hosszú távú előnyökre tehet szert, áldemokráciát hozva létre. Történelmi példák jól mutatják, hogy a rendszer bukását végül általában a gyengébb gazdasági teljesítmény és a korrupció széles körűvé válása kényszeríti ki. _____ The paper focuses on a specific political system lying between democracy and autocracy, which has similarities to both. Called here a pseudo-democracy, it is examined from the point of view of rents. The paper enquires how a democracy can allow a single party to dominate the political landscape for a long period. The author constructs a model to link rent creation to vote maximization, arguing that it can be rational for incumbents to increase rents beyond the short-term optimum. The model also reveals that surplus rents may offer long-term gains to an elite by strengthening its clientčle, challenging the systemic political framework and holding back the opposition. Historical examples show that the end-result of a pseudo-democratic system will usually be to weaken economic performance and increase corruption.

The words of God: Religious texts and the Counter -Reformation in the Spanish world

This dissertation analyzes a variety of religious texts such as catechisms, confession manuals, ecclesiastical legislation, saints' lives, and sermons to determine the definitions of orthodoxy held by the Spanish clergy and the origins of such visions. The conclusion posited by this research was that there was a definite continuity between the process of Catholic reform in Spain and the process of Catholic expansion into the New World in that the objectives and concerns of the Spanish clergy in Europe and the New World were very similar. This dissertation also analyzes sources that predated the Council of Trent and demonstrates that within the Iberian context the Council of Trent cannot be used as a starting date for the attempts at Catholic reform. In essence, this work concludes the Spanish clergy's activities were influenced by humanist concepts of models and model behaviour which is reflected in their attempt to form model Catholics in Spain and the New World and in their impulse to produce written texts as standards. ^

A responsabilidade enunciativa em artigos científicos de pesquisadores iniciantes e contribuições para o ensino da produção textual na graduação

This thesis investigates materialization strategies of non-assumption of enunciation responsibility and inscription of an authorial voice in scientific articles produced by initial researchers in Linguistics. The specific focus lays on identify, describe and interpret: i) linguistics marks that assign enunciation responsibility; ii) the positions taken by the first speaker-enunciator (L1/E1) in relation to points of view (PoV) imputed to second enunciators (e2); and iii) the linguistic marks that assign the formulation of themselves' PoV. As a practical deployment, it is proposed to discuss how to teach taking into account text discursive strategies regarding to enunciation responsibility and also authorship in academic and scientific texts. Our research corpus is formed by eight scientific essays and they were selected in a renamed Linguistics scientific magazine which is high evaluated by Qualis/CAPES (Brazil Science Agency). The methodology follows the assumptions of a qualitative research, and an it has such an interpretative basis, even though it takes support in a quantitative approach, too. Theoretically, we based this research on Textual Analysis of Speech and linguistics theories about linguistic enunciation area. The results show two kinds of movements in PoV management: imputation and responsibility. In imputation contexts, the most recursive linguistic marks were reported speech, indirect speech, reported speech with “that”, modalization in reported speech (in enunciation with “according to”, “in agreement with”, “for”), beyond that we see certain points of non-coincidences of speech, specifically the non-coincidence of the speech itself. The way those linguistic marks occur in the text point out three kinds of enunciation positions that are assumed by L1/E1 in relation to PoV of e2: agreement, disagreement and a pseudo neutrality. It was clearly recursive the imputation followed by agreement (explicit or not), this perspective puts other’s voices to defend a speech assumed like own authorship. In speech responsibility contexts, we observed such a formulation of inner PoV that results from theoretical findings undertaken by novice researchers (revealing how he/she interpreted concepts of the theory) or arising from their research data, allowing them to express with more autonomy and without reporting to speeches from e2. Based on those data, we can say that, in text by initial researchers, the authorship is strongly built upon PoV and also dependent from others' words (theory and the scholars quoted there), taking into account that many contexts in which we can observe agreement position, PoV formulations with words taken from e2 and assumed as own words by syntactic integration, the comments about what the other says, the absence of explanations and additions, as well as a data analysis that could show agreement with the theory used to support the work. These results allow us to visualize how initial researcher dialogs with the theoretical enunciation sources he or she takes as support and how he/she displays the status of a subject doing a research and positioning himself/herself as a researcher/author in the scientific field. In assuming the reported speech, when quoting, as a resource that allows the enunciation responsibility and also when doing evidence to the positions of speaker-enunciator in relation do reported PoV, this suggests to a textual-discursive treatment of quoting in academic and scientific text, in a context of teaching that gives attention to the development of communication skills of initial researcher and that can contribute to insert and interact students in the scientific field.

A responsabilidade enunciativa em artigos científicos de pesquisadores iniciantes e contribuições para o ensino da produção textual na graduação

This thesis investigates materialization strategies of non-assumption of enunciation responsibility and inscription of an authorial voice in scientific articles produced by initial researchers in Linguistics. The specific focus lays on identify, describe and interpret: i) linguistics marks that assign enunciation responsibility; ii) the positions taken by the first speaker-enunciator (L1/E1) in relation to points of view (PoV) imputed to second enunciators (e2); and iii) the linguistic marks that assign the formulation of themselves' PoV. As a practical deployment, it is proposed to discuss how to teach taking into account text discursive strategies regarding to enunciation responsibility and also authorship in academic and scientific texts. Our research corpus is formed by eight scientific essays and they were selected in a renamed Linguistics scientific magazine which is high evaluated by Qualis/CAPES (Brazil Science Agency). The methodology follows the assumptions of a qualitative research, and an it has such an interpretative basis, even though it takes support in a quantitative approach, too. Theoretically, we based this research on Textual Analysis of Speech and linguistics theories about linguistic enunciation area. The results show two kinds of movements in PoV management: imputation and responsibility. In imputation contexts, the most recursive linguistic marks were reported speech, indirect speech, reported speech with “that”, modalization in reported speech (in enunciation with “according to”, “in agreement with”, “for”), beyond that we see certain points of non-coincidences of speech, specifically the non-coincidence of the speech itself. The way those linguistic marks occur in the text point out three kinds of enunciation positions that are assumed by L1/E1 in relation to PoV of e2: agreement, disagreement and a pseudo neutrality. It was clearly recursive the imputation followed by agreement (explicit or not), this perspective puts other’s voices to defend a speech assumed like own authorship. In speech responsibility contexts, we observed such a formulation of inner PoV that results from theoretical findings undertaken by novice researchers (revealing how he/she interpreted concepts of the theory) or arising from their research data, allowing them to express with more autonomy and without reporting to speeches from e2. Based on those data, we can say that, in text by initial researchers, the authorship is strongly built upon PoV and also dependent from others' words (theory and the scholars quoted there), taking into account that many contexts in which we can observe agreement position, PoV formulations with words taken from e2 and assumed as own words by syntactic integration, the comments about what the other says, the absence of explanations and additions, as well as a data analysis that could show agreement with the theory used to support the work. These results allow us to visualize how initial researcher dialogs with the theoretical enunciation sources he or she takes as support and how he/she displays the status of a subject doing a research and positioning himself/herself as a researcher/author in the scientific field. In assuming the reported speech, when quoting, as a resource that allows the enunciation responsibility and also when doing evidence to the positions of speaker-enunciator in relation do reported PoV, this suggests to a textual-discursive treatment of quoting in academic and scientific text, in a context of teaching that gives attention to the development of communication skills of initial researcher and that can contribute to insert and interact students in the scientific field.

Análise da biorremediação de compostos monoaromáticos em água através da pseudomonas aeruginosa

The monoaromatic compounds are toxic substances present in petroleum derivades and used broadly in the chemical and petrochemical industries. Those compounds are continuously released into the environment, contaminating the soil and water sources, leading to the possible unfeasibility of those hydrous resources due to their highly carcinogenic and mutagenic potentiality, since even in low concentrations, the BTEX may cause serious health issues. Therefore, it is extremely important to develop and search for new methodologies that assist and enable the treatment of BTEX-contaminated matrix. The bioremediation consists on the utilization of microbial groups capable of degrading hydrocarbons, promoting mineralization, or in other words, the permanent destruction of residues, eliminating the risks of future contaminations. This work investigated the biodegradation kinetics of water-soluble monoaromatic compounds (benzene, toluene and ethylbenzene), based on the evaluation of its consummation by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, for concentrations varying from 40 to 200 mg/L. To do so, the performances of Monod kinetic model for microbial growth were evaluated and the material balance equations for a batch operation were discretized and numerically solved by the fourth order Runge-Kutta method. The kinetic parameters obtained using the method of least squares as statistical criteria were coherent when compared to those obtained from the literature. They also showed that, the microorganism has greater affinity for ethylbenzene. That way, it was possible to observe that Monod model can predict the experimental data for the individual biodegradation of the BTEX substrates and it can be applied to the optimization of the biodegradation processes of toxic compounds for different types of bioreactors and for different operational conditions.

Análise da biorremediação de compostos monoaromáticos em água através da pseudomonas aeruginosa

The monoaromatic compounds are toxic substances present in petroleum derivades and used broadly in the chemical and petrochemical industries. Those compounds are continuously released into the environment, contaminating the soil and water sources, leading to the possible unfeasibility of those hydrous resources due to their highly carcinogenic and mutagenic potentiality, since even in low concentrations, the BTEX may cause serious health issues. Therefore, it is extremely important to develop and search for new methodologies that assist and enable the treatment of BTEX-contaminated matrix. The bioremediation consists on the utilization of microbial groups capable of degrading hydrocarbons, promoting mineralization, or in other words, the permanent destruction of residues, eliminating the risks of future contaminations. This work investigated the biodegradation kinetics of water-soluble monoaromatic compounds (benzene, toluene and ethylbenzene), based on the evaluation of its consummation by the Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, for concentrations varying from 40 to 200 mg/L. To do so, the performances of Monod kinetic model for microbial growth were evaluated and the material balance equations for a batch operation were discretized and numerically solved by the fourth order Runge-Kutta method. The kinetic parameters obtained using the method of least squares as statistical criteria were coherent when compared to those obtained from the literature. They also showed that, the microorganism has greater affinity for ethylbenzene. That way, it was possible to observe that Monod model can predict the experimental data for the individual biodegradation of the BTEX substrates and it can be applied to the optimization of the biodegradation processes of toxic compounds for different types of bioreactors and for different operational conditions.