Common Scientific Lexicon for Automatic Discourse Analysis of Scientific and Technical Texts

The paper reports on preliminary results of an ongoing research aiming at development of an automatic procedure for recognition of discourse-compositional structure of scientific and technical texts, which is required in many NLP applications. The procedure exploits as discourse markers various domain-independent words and expressions that are specific for scientific and technical texts and organize scientific discourse. The paper discusses features of scientific discourse and common scientific lexicon comprising such words and expressions. Methodological issues of development of a computer dictionary for common scientific lexicon are concerned; basic principles of its organization are described as well. Main steps of the discourse-analyzing procedure based on the dictionary and surface syntactical analysis are pointed out.

Are the World AIDS Conferences guilty of gender bias? Evidence from trends in the monitoring of WAC scientific discourse from 1989 to 2012

Background : The issue of gender is acknowledged as a key issue for the AIDS epidemic. World AIDS Conferences (WAC) have constituted a major discursive space for the epidemic. We sought to establish the balance regarding gender in the AIDS scientific discourse by following its development in the published proceedings of WAC. Fifteen successive WAC 1989-2012 served to establish a "barometer" of scientific interest in heterosexual and homo/bisexual men and women throughout the epidemic. It was hypothesised that, as in other domains of Sexual and Reproductive Health, heterosexual men would be "forgotten" partners. Method : Abstracts from each conference were entered in electronic form into an Access database. Queries were created to generate five categories of interest and to monitor their annual frequency. All abstract titles including the term "men" or "women" were identified. Collections of synonyms were systematically and iteratively developed in order to classify further abstracts according to whether they included terms referring to "homo/bisexual" or "heterosexual". Reference to "Mother to Child Transmission" (MTCT) was also flagged. Results : The category including "men", but without additional reference to "homo-bisexuel" (i.e. referring to men in general and/or to heterosexual men) consistently appears four times less often than the equivalent category for women. Excluding abstracts on women and MTCT has little impact on this difference. Abstracts including reference to both "men" and "homo-bisexual" emerge as the secondmost frequent category; presence of the equivalent category for women is minimal. Conclusion : The hypothesised absence of heterosexual men in the AIDS discourse was confirmed. Although the relative presence of homo-bisexual men and women as a focal subject may be explained by epidemiological data, this is not so in the case of heterosexual men and women. This imbalance has consequences for HIV prevention.

Foretelling darwinism, revising race: Poe's scientific discourse in "The murders in the rue Morgue"

Having recently celebrated the bicentenary of Edgar Allan Poe���s birth, his tales still remain an invaluable source of ongoing interpretation. The first tale that conforms his detective trilogy, ���The Murders in the Rue Morgue���, has been analysed from multiple perpectives, especially taking into consideration the discourse of race as a main focus of attention. Nonetheless, detective Auguste Dupin���s references to Georges Cuvier, an important preDarwinian French naturalist and zoologist, have often been unnoticed. This article aims at identifying pre-Darwinian concepts about selection and evolution in Poe���s tale so as to facilitate readings of the tale in relation to Darwinism and evolutionary theories

SCIENTIFIC LANGUAGE RHETORIC: FROM THE THEORETICAL BASIS TO THE PRODUCTION OF DIDACTIC MATERIAL FOR UNDERGRADUATE CHEMISTRY TEACHING

This work is part of a study that focused on analyzing the contributions of didactic activities related to scientific language rhetoric characteristics aimed at developing students' abilities to identify such characteristics in chemistry scientific texts and critical reading of those texts. In this study, we present the theoretical basis adopted to determine the scientific discourse characteristics and for the production of the didactic material used in those activities. Latour, Coracini and Campanario studies on persuasive rhetorical strategies present in scientific articles aided the production of such material.

A gaze to rural education according to scientific discourses during the last decade

He largest proportion of illiteracy and lack of access to education in the world is concentrated in rural areas; therefore it is important to ensure there is access to quality education in these spots. This challenge is assumed by different branches of social research and it is reflected within the publication of articles in scientific journals. In the present document the scientific discourse surrounding the theme of rural education during the last decade was analyzed. To do this, the paper focuses on three aspects: the countries that set the agenda, the geographical areas that represent most of the attention and the prevalent themes within continents. It was observed that USA was the most productive country in terms of scientific writings with 30%; that Asia is really interested in health issues associated to rural education; that in Europe gender issues are on the table and that the African and Asian continents, as well as Latin America, are interested only on their own issues, as 100% of the times they only wrote about themselves.

Discorhabdin R: A new antibacterial Pyrroloiminoquinone from two latrunculiid marine sponges, Latrunculia sp and Negombata sp.

Two sponge's belonging to the family Latrunculiidae (Negombata and Latrunculia sp.) collected during scientific trawling operations in Prydz Bay, Antarctica, and by scuba off Port Campbell, Victoria, have yielded a new antibacterial pyrroloiminoquinone, discorhabdin R (2). The structure was assigned as 2 on the basis of detailed, spectroscopic analysis and comparison with the known co-metabolite discorhabdin B (3).

Structure revision and assignment of absolute stereochemistry of a marine C-21 bisfuranoterpene

The C-21 bisfuranoterpene (-)-isotetradehydrofurospongin-1 (6), previously isolated from a Western Australian Spongia sp., has been reisolated from a specimen of Spirastrella papilosa collected during scientific trawling operations in the Great Australian Eight. A 2D NMR analysis of 6 has prompted reassignment of the published structure 5, while degradation and chiral HPLC analysis have allowed determination of the absolute stereochemistry.

Mirabilin G: A new alkaloid from a southern Australian marine sponge, Clathria species

A Clathria sp. collected during scientific trawling operations in the Great Australian Bight, Australia, has yielded the new alkaloid mirabilin G (1). A structure was secured for 1 by detailed spectroscopic analysis and comparison to known marine alkaloids.

Esmodil: An acetylcholine mimetic resurfaces in a southern australian marine sponge Raspailia (Raspailia) sp.

Bioassay directed fractionation of a Raspailia (Raspailia) sp. (Order Poecilosclerida; Family Raspailiidae) collected during scientific trawling operations off the Northern Rottnest Shelf yielded as nematocidal agents the known metabolites, phorboxazoles A (1) and B (2). Further examination revealed the new natural product but known synthetic compound, esmodil (3). The structure for 3 was confirmed by spectroscopic analysis and total synthesis.

The Bergsonian intuition of duration : the time of science is space

According to Bergson, the philosophical tradition had been unanimous in declaring the question of time essential. However, it had neglected its correct framing which, for the author, lies in the metaphysical approach of an immediate and inner experience of concrete duration. In the current paper, we shall present Henri Bergson's concept of time, particularly the author's critique to the scope scientific discourse has of this concept. Simultaneously, we shall explore the central role of time in the Bergsonian thought, metaphorically understood as the very stuff of reality. We shall not, therefore, explore Bergson's ideas on Physics, but some of the metaphysical consequences that he withdraws from certain physics' concepts or theories.

Criminolog��a positivista y anarqusimo en la Espa��a de entresiglos (XIX-XX): un debate sobre la naturaleza, la ciencia y el progreso

El estudio hasta el momento de la relaci��n entre positivismo criminol��gico e ideario anarquista de entre siglos (XIX-XX), ha evidenciado la trascendencia del estudio de aquellos dos pensamiento en esa etapa hist��rica. El desarrollo de la Criminolog��a como ciencia, as�� como del verdadero n��cleo te��rico y pr��ctico del anarquismo espa��ol, se encuentra en aquel momento hist��rico de cambio de siglo. La construcci��n del tipo criminal anarquista, la pol��tica criminal desarrollada al efecto, as�� como las cr��ticas, propuesta y posturas acerca de la cuesti��n criminal por parte de los anarquistas, revelan un auge discursivo y cient��fico de ambas partes que estaban discutiendo sobre temas verdaderamente de fondo: aquellos sobre la naturaleza, el progreso y la forma de sociedad y Estado. M��s all�� de las disputas con aquellos autores de la Scuola Italiana, los anarquistas espa��oles, avivaron un inter��s decisivo en otro tipo de teor��as como el darwinismo o el neomalthusianismo. M��s all�� del vehemente rechazo a la c��rcel y al sistema estatal y capitalista en su conjunto, el desarrollo y utilizaci��n en propio sentido de la Ciencia, se fundament�� como herramienta pol��tica b��sica para el pensamiento anarquista. Por su parte, esa misma Ciencia positiva, era el comod��n ���objetivo��� que se usaba de herramienta para una criminalizaci��n y persecuci��n pol��tica de numerosas disidencias. Desentra��ar, por un lado, c��mo se articul�� cada uno de esos discursos y qu�� implicaciones y relaciones tuvo, y por otro, qu�� herencia pervive de aquellas construcciones en nuestro sistema penal y pol��tico, son los puntos centrales de esta Tesis.

Plurilinguisme et construction des savoirs sous l'angle de diverses disciplines

The Plateforme Interdisciplinaire of the University of Lausanne is at the crossroad of soft and hard sciences. We question the place and the role of languages and scientific cultures in the construction and the transmission of knowledge. The examples - from the fields of law, health, mathematics, neurosciences and university education - exceed a conception of languages as transparent vehicles for ideas and discoveries. They enable to consider the diversity of languages and scientific cultures as a mean for a " thick standardization" of science, integrating and valuing the double need for conceptual depth and accessibility of scientific discourse.

Unnatural Mothers, Mothering Unnaturally: Technologies of Reproduction and the Politics of Maternity in Hiromi Goto's "Hopeful Monsters"

Through scientific discourse and reproductive technologies, the reproductive body and the maternal body continue to be constructed as ���natural���. At the same time,these technologies have begun to blur the boundaries between what is consideredan acceptable reproductive body, and consequently an acceptable maternal body,and an unnatural or a socially undesireable one. As science purports to offerwomen greater control over how and when they choose to procreate, through methods which range between delaying or eliminating the possibility of contraception to those which extend the possibility of conception to postmenopausal or infertile women, these same procedures raise questions about thenature and ���naturalness��� of reproduction. Added to these concerns are thesuitablility of the reproductive body as a maternal body. Consequently, and moreand more frequently, bodies which defy ideals about maternity and motherhoodemerge, and questions about what it means to mother are raised. Bodies whichcontest the construction of motherhood as natural are frequently represented asmonstrous or freakish, and the debate between science and nature is heightened.Hiromi Goto���s short story ���Hopeful Monsters��� resists the construction of the���natural��� maternal body by highlighting the way in which women���s bodies areshaped by scientific discourse. In turn, images of ���monstrous��� mothers emerge andare challenged, suggesting the need to reimagine what it means to mother and whatit means to be a mother. Through reading a selection of the stories this paper willinterrogate possible alternatives to constructions of the ���natural��� maternal body and motherhood, suggesting that the Goto���s ���monsters��� are perhaps only monstrous as a result of scientific discourse which constructs them as such.

Interpretaciones de la atenuaci��n en art��culos de revisi��n de Odontolog��a

Este trabajo analiza c��mo interpretan la atenuaci��n 25 estudiantes universitarios venezolanos de Odontolog��a, de nuevo ingreso, al responder a dos cuestionarios luego de leer un art��culo de revisi��n. En el primero, con preguntas abiertas, deb��an interpretar algunas expresiones atenuadas preseleccionadas; en el segundo, deb��an elegir entre varias interpretaciones cerradas de los mismos fragmentos. Clasificamos sus respuestas en las siguientes categor��as: reconocimiento, supresi��n y aumento de la atenuaci��n, en el primer cuestionario; identificaci��n de aproximadores, escudos, de��cticos y construcciones impersonales, en el segundo. En los resultados predomina la identificaci��n de atenuadores asociados a la dimensi��n sem��ntica: el 30% reconoci�� la atenuaci��n tal como fue usada en el original, el 30% aument�� su valor y el 40% no la logr�� identificar. Los estudiantes identificaron con mayor frecuencia los aproximadores, a diferencia de los escudos, las construcciones impersonales y los de��cticos temporales. Estos resultados sugieren que es necesario formar a losestudiantes en el uso especializado de las dimensiones pragm��tica y sociocognitiva de la atenuaci��n, en cursos de lectura y escritura acad��mica. Solo este conocimiento espec��fico permitir�� que los estudiantes dominen el discurso cient��fico protot��pico de la Odontolog��a.

Repr��sentations sociales et repr��sentations intimes de la maladie. Quelques r��flexions d'un clinicien [Social and private representations of cancer. A clinician's point of view]

This paper discusses social representations in scientific communications and private ones that are linked to the individual imagination. Social representations, in a limited sense, are useful for the development of preventive messages, but of little benefit to clinical work. We highlight some non-explicit aspects of scientific discourse that impact on treatment: projected beliefs and values. We tackle the relationship between the concepts of representation, imagination, identity and temporality in the individual approach of the cancer patient.