Using a Logic Programming Framework to Control Database Query Dialogues in Natural Language

We present a natural language question/answering system to interface the University of Évora databases that uses clarification dialogs in order to clarify user questions. It was developed in an integrated logic programming framework, based on constraint logic programming using the GnuProlog(-cx) language [2,11] and the ISCO framework [1]. The use of this LP framework allows the integration of Prolog-like inference mechanisms with classes and inheritance, constraint solving algorithms and provides the connection with relational databases, such as PostgreSQL. This system focus on the questions’ pragmatic analysis, to handle ambiguity, and on an efficient dialogue mechanism, which is able to place relevant questions to clarify the user intentions in a straightforward manner. Proper Nouns resolution and the pp-attachment problem are also handled. This paper briefly presents this innovative system focusing on its ability to correctly determine the user intention through its dialogue capability

Impactos sociais: o emprego na agricultura irrigada de Guaíra, SP.

bitstream/item/86869/1/1994FL-001.pdfEste trabalho é uma reelaboração de parte da dissertação de Mestrado "Transformações Tecnológicas na Agricultura: Processo de Trabalho e Relações Sociais", apresentada pela autora no IFCH/UNICAMP - ABREU, L. S. de Transformações tecnologicas na agricultura : processo de trabalho e relações sociais em Guaira (SP). Dissertação (Mestrado). IFCH/UNICAMP. 1994

Formes d'organisation de maraîchers organiques périurbains de São Paulo.

Le développement de l'agriculture organique au Brésil prend des formes multiples. Au travers de leur expérience de l'AO, dans une communauté proche de trois métropoles, de petits maraîchers d'Ibiúna (São Paulo) créent des entités collectives et expérimentent de nouvelles pratiques sociales. À partir d'entretiens et d'observations sur le terrain, nous montrons comment ces minifundios se sont, ou ont été, organisés pour développer l'AO dans un même territoire Nous identifions quatre formes sociales d'organisation, leurs dynamiques, leurs valeurs et leurs inter-relations. Nous discutons des éléments susceptibles de sécuriser leur reproduction sociale et de soutenir de nouvelles voies de développement

A dinâmica do desenvolvimento da agroecologia no Brasil e na América Latina.

Resumo: A agroecologia é fonte de inspiração para a construção de sistemas agroalimentares ecológicos, a partir de 2003, foi fortalecida através de políticas públicas. O objetivo do artigo é o de apresentar as características, os elementos históricos determinantes da dinâmica de desenvolvimento da agroecologia no Brasil e em alguns países da América Latina, bem como suas diferentes facetas e o estado atual de sua estruturação. A metodologia utilizada é fruto de uma revisão bibliográfica, análise compreensiva de natureza sociológica e agronômica de um conjunto de estudos de casos. A agroecologia é atualmente legitimada pelo movimento social, redes científicas e técnicas, num cenário de tensão permanente e, de coexistência com a agricultura denominada de convencional ou produtivista

Agroforestry systems among small farmers in the southern Brazilian Amazon region: social resilience to the global ecological crisis.

Few studies have analysed the role of Amazonian populations for ecological conservation of the biodiversity and for the reduction of local climatic changes. This study address an experience with Agroforestal Systems (AFSs) developed by Alternative Producers Association (APA) in Ouro Preto do Oeste, Rondônia State. The hypothesis is that the agrobiodiversity associated to agroforestry systems would contribute to the minimization of the global environmental crisis and at the same time provide goods utilized in these producers food and living. The paper investigates the possibility of conciliating the environmental conservation with the expansion of small farming in Amazon promoting agrobiodiversity along with the improvement of food sovereignty. The development of balanced agroforestry systems contribute to the reduction of deforestation, therefore we contest an old diagnostic that incriminates resource-poor farmers for the forest and soil destruction. Our study documented a number of forest preservation and agroecological practices and systems implemented. It shows that an institutional support is necessary to strengthen the social organization and local sustainable development projects; it is fundamental for the consolidation and amplification of the agroecological experiences in Amazon. In spite of instabilities which occurred between 2008 and 2010 in the APA?s financial management, this social experience strongly contributed to the establishment of an ethical acquaintanceship with the nature and to the construction of local ecological identity, besides warranting food sovereignty of the small farmers. These successful initiative of agroforestry systems symbolically express a local response to contemporary global ecological crisis