FolkRank: A Ranking Algorithm for Folksonomies

In social bookmark tools users are setting up lightweight conceptual structures called folksonomies. Currently, the information retrieval support is limited. We present a formal model and a new search algorithm for folksonomies, called FolkRank, that exploits the structure of the folksonomy. The proposed algorithm is also applied to find communities within the folksonomy and is used to structure search results. All findings are demonstrated on a large scale dataset. A long version of this paper has been published at the European Semantic Web Conference 2006

Semantic Network Analysis of Ontologies

A key argument for modeling knowledge in ontologies is the easy re-use and re-engineering of the knowledge. However, current ontology engineering tools provide only basic functionalities for analyzing ontologies. Since ontologies can be considered as graphs, graph analysis techniques are a suitable answer for this need. Graph analysis has been performed by sociologists for over 60 years, and resulted in the vivid research area of Social Network Analysis (SNA). While social network structures currently receive high attention in the Semantic Web community, there are only very few SNA applications, and virtually none for analyzing the structure of ontologies. We illustrate the benefits of applying SNA to ontologies and the Semantic Web, and discuss which research topics arise on the edge between the two areas. In particular, we discuss how different notions of centrality describe the core content and structure of an ontology. From the rather simple notion of degree centrality over betweenness centrality to the more complex eigenvector centrality, we illustrate the insights these measures provide on two ontologies, which are different in purpose, scope, and size

Tradução e retradução de Os Sertões de Euclides da Cunha: Análise de duas traduções em Inglês

O objetivo deste artigo é comparar as traduções para o inglês da obra prima Os Sertões de Euclides da Cunha publicada em 1944 por Samuel Putnam com a retradução elaborada por Elizabeth Lowe em 2010. Três trechos retirados do original são comparados com as respectivas versões com o intuito de propor uma análise baseada em dados, evitando impressões subjetivas. Os dados levantados indicam queas duas traduções são competentes, mas ambas apresentam pontos fortes e fracos. A análise comparativa mostra casos de omissão por parte de Lowe de conteúdos presentes no texto fonte. Putnam tem sido criticado por Straile and Fitz (1995), e também assinalado por Lowe (2014), por ele ter suprimido muitas das elipses constantes do texto original. Argumenta-se que um critério único para o assesoramento de traduções não é suficiente e um close reading de textos baseada na análise de dados conduz a uma avaliação persuasiva.The aim of this paper is compare the English translations of Euclides da Cunha’s masterpiece Os Sertões published in 1944 by Samuel Putnam with the retranslation prepared by Elizabeth Lowe that appeared in 2010. Three excerpts from the original are compared with their respective renditions in order to present an analysis based on data, avoiding subjectivity. The data indicate that both translations are competent, yet both have their strengths and weaknesses. The analysis of the translations points to instances of omission by Lowe of some material present in the original Portuguese edition. Putnam has been criticized by Straile and Fitz (1995), and duly subscribed to by Lowe (2014), for his having suppressed many of da Cunha’s ellipses. It is argued that a single yardstick for translation assessment is not sufficient and a close reading of texts based on the analysis of data can lead to a persuasive evaluation

Alguns temas polêmicos na disciplina de linguística aplicada

In this paper, I look at three polemical issues in Applied Linguistics. I argue, first of all, that the desire for a stable definition of applied linguistics has by no means prevented research in the discipline. Secondly, I contend that the notion or tradition of linguistics applied (corpus linguistics or lexicography) is broader and more serious than applicationism (the use of linguistic formalisms, artificial practices, and terminology) in teaching material that are problematic and motivated by commercial interests. Thirdly, I argue that Educational Linguistics and Applied Linguistics have overlapping research objectives. In the course of the paper, I present some reservations about Educational Linguistics.Neste trabalho, examino três temas polêmicos na disciplina de Linguística Aplicada. Argumento, em primeiro lugar, que o desejo de uma definição estável de Linguística Aplicada, de nenhuma forma, tem impedido a pesquisa no âmbito da disciplina. Em segundo lugar, argumento que a Linguistics Applied (a linguística do corpus ou a lexicologia) são muito mais abrangentes e sérias do que as práticas aplicacionistas (o uso de formalismo, artificialismos e nomenclatura em material didático) que são problemáticos e motivados por interesses comerciais. Em terceiro lugar, argumento que a Linguística Educacional e a Linguística Aplicada têm objetivos de pesquisa que se sobrepõem. No decorrer do trabalho, apresento algumas reservas minhas sobre a Linguística Educacional.214

Fabric-formed concrete member design

This paper introduces engineering design and analytical modeling techniques providing the design community with an alternative means for forming concrete structures by using flexible fabric formwork

Sobre O Conceito Falante Nativo/falante Não-nativo E"world Englishes": Um Debate Com K. Rajagopalan

In a series of three articles published in the Journal of Pragmatics (1995, henceforth JP), the purpose of the papers is to question the division of English spoken in the world into, on one hand, "native" varieties (British English, American English. Australian English) and, on the other, "new/nonnative" varieties (Indian English, Singaporean English, Nigerian English). The JP articles are indeed groundbreaking for they mark one of the first interactions among scholars from the East with researchers in the West with regard to the growth and spread of the language as well as the roles English is made to play by its impressive number of users. The privileged position of prestige and power attributed to the inner circle varieties (USA, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand) is questioned. Rajagopalan (1997, motivated by his reading of the JP papers, adds another dimension to this questioning by pointing to the racial and discriminatory stance underlying the notions "native speaker" and "nonnative speaker" (henceforth, respectively NS and NNS). Rajagopalan has written extensively on the issue of nativity or "nativeness"; over the years, Schmitz has also written on the same topic. There appears, in some cases, to be a number of divergent views with regard to subject on hand on the part of both authors. The purpose of this article is to engage in a respectful debate to uncover misreading and possible misunderstanding on the part of Schmitz. Listening to one another and learning from each another are essential in all academic endeavors.32359761

Targeted genome modifications in soybean with CRISPR/Cas9

Background: The ability to selectively alter genomic DNA sequences in vivo is a powerful tool for basic and applied research. The CRISPR/Cas9 system precisely mutates DNA sequences in a number of organisms. Here, the CRISPR/Cas9 system is shown to be effective in soybean by knocking-out a green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgene and modifying nine endogenous loci. Results: Targeted DNA mutations were detected in 95% of 88 hairy-root transgenic events analyzed. Bi-allelic mutations were detected in events transformed with eight of the nine targeting vectors. Small deletions were the most common type of mutation produced, although SNPs and short insertions were also observed. Homoeologous genes were successfully targeted singly and together, demonstrating that CRISPR/Cas9 can both selectively, and generally, target members of gene families. Somatic embryo cultures were also modified to enable the production of plants with heritable mutations, with the frequency of DNA modifications increasing with culture time. A novel cloning strategy and vector system based on In-Fusion (R) cloning was developed to simplify the production of CRISPR/Cas9 targeting vectors, which should be applicable for targeting any gene in any organism. Conclusions: The CRISPR/Cas9 is a simple, efficient, and highly specific genome editing tool in soybean. Although some vectors are more efficient than others, it is possible to edit duplicated genes relatively easily. The vectors and methods developed here will be useful for the application of CRISPR/Cas9 to soybean and other plant species