Machine translation and Welsh: analysing free statistical machine translation for the professional translation of an under-researched language pair

This article reports on a key-logging study carried out to test the benefits of post-editing Machine Translation (MT) for the professional translator within a hypothetico-deductive framework, contrasting the outcomes of a number of variables which are inextricably linked to the professional translation process. Given the current trend of allowing the professional translator to connect to Google Translate services within the main Translation Memory (TM) systems via an API, a between-groups design is utilized in which cognitive, technical and temporal effort are gauged between translation and post-editing the statistical MT engine Google Translate. The language pair investigated is English and Welsh. Results show no statistical difference between post-editing and translation in terms of processing time. Using a novel measure of cognitive effort focused on pauses, the cognitive effort exerted by post-editors and translators was also found to be statistically different. Results also show however that a complex relationship exists between post-editing, translation and technical effort, in that aspects of text production processes were seen to be eased by post-editing. Finally, a bilingual review by two different translators found little difference in quality between the translated and post-edited texts, and that both sets of texts were acceptable according to accuracy and fidelity

Effaith Defnyddio Cofion Cyfieithu ar y Broses Cyfieithu: Ymdrech a Chynhyrchiant Cyfieithwyr Proffesiynol Cymraeg

Mae cyfieithu i’r Gymraeg wedi tyfu bellach yn ddiwydiant pwysig, ac mae’r berthynas rhwng cyfieithu proffesiynol a chynllunio ieithyddol ehangach wedi cael sylw academaidd yn ddiweddar ochr yn ochr â hyn (cf. Gonzalez 2005, O’Connall a Walsh 2006, Kaufmann 2010, 2012, Nunez 2013). Mae cyfieithwyr yn hwyluso ac yn cynorthwyo ymdrechion i amddiffyn hawliau iaith siaradwyr lleiafrifol ac yn cyfrannu at y gwaith ehangach o adfer yr ieithoedd hyn, trwy ddarparu cyfieithiadau o destunau amrywiol ac wrth alluogi siaradwyr ieithoedd lleiafrifol i siarad eu hiaith. O ganlyniad i bwysigrwydd cyfieithwyr i lwyddiant polisïau iaith a’u lle canolog yn y broses o amddiffyn hyfywedd y gymuned Gymraeg, mae’r dulliau y mae cyfieithwyr y Gymraeg yn cyfieithu drwyddynt hefyd yn ystyriaeth berthnasol i gynllunwyr iaith. A all technolegau cyfieithu penodol gyflymu cyfieithu, gan leihau’r ymdrech sydd ynghlwm wrth greu cyfieithiad a chan gynyddu cynhyrchiant cyfieithwyr proffesiynol? Mae hyn yn ystyriaeth berthnasol yng nghyd-destun datblygiadau polisi diweddar, gyda safonau cyntaf Mesur y Gymraeg (Cymru) 2011 wrthi’n cael eu gweithredu. Bydd yr erthygl hon yn mynd i’r afael â’r effaith y mae golygu allbwn Cofion Cyfieithu ar ffurf Cyfatebiaethau Rhannol yn ei gael ar y broses o ffurfio cyfieithiad, ar y cyd ag ystyried yr effaith ar brosesau cynhyrchu testun, gan gynnwys ystyried hefyd nifer y geiriau a gynhyrchir. Gwneir hynny o fewn fframwaith cymharol, lle y defnyddir cyfieithu heb gymorth allbwn o’r cof cyfieithu yn waelodlin

Exploring links between Arctic amplification and mid-latitude weather

Copyright © 2013 American Geophysical UnionThis study examines observed changes (1979–2011) in atmospheric planetary-wave amplitude over northern mid-latitudes, which have been proposed as a possible mechanism linking Arctic amplification and mid-latitude weather extremes. We use two distinct but equally-valid definitions of planetary-wave amplitude, termed meridional amplitude, a measure of north-south meandering, and zonal amplitude, a measure of the intensity of atmospheric ridges and troughs at 45°N. Statistically significant changes in either metric are limited to few seasons, wavelengths, and longitudinal sectors. However in summer, we identify significant increases in meridional amplitude over Europe, but significant decreases in zonal amplitude hemispherically, and also individually over Europe and Asia. Therefore, we argue that possible connections between Arctic amplification and planetary waves, and implications of these, are sensitive to how waves are conceptualized. The contrasting meridional and zonal amplitude trends have different and complex possible implications for midlatitude weather, and we encourage further work to better understand these

Audit of Moving Image Education & Media Access Centres in Scotland

No abstract available

Half-century air temperature change above Antarctica: Observed trends and spatial reconstructions

Copyright © 2012 American Geophysical UnionThis study provides a comprehensive analysis of observed 50-year (1961–2010) seasonal air temperature trends from radiosonde ascents above Antarctica. Comparisons between multiple radiosonde data sets (homogenized in different ways) at each of eight Antarctic stations reveals substantial differences in the upper-air temperature trend magnitudes and their statistical significance between data sets. However, when considering the average of these data sets at each station, or averaging across all stations, a robust vertical profile of half-century temperature change emerges, characterized by mid-tropospheric warming and stratospheric cooling. Statistically significant Multistation-mean 500 hPa warming (0.1 to 0.2°C decade−1) is found in all seasons, whereas the lower stratospheric cooling has been manifest primarily in austral spring and summer, but with larger magnitudes (−1.0 to −2.0°C decade−1). We undertake the first spatial reconstructions of pan-Antarctic upper-air temperature trends. They strongly suggest that both the year-round mid-tropospheric warming and spring and summer lower stratospheric cooling have occurred above the entire continent, although their magnitudes and significance vary regionally. The reconstructed 500 hPa warming trends in winter and spring are largest over West Antarctica, the Ross Ice shelf, Victoria Land and Oates Land, and show close resemblance to those found in previously published surface temperature trend reconstructions, suggesting coupling between the surface and trends aloft. We speculate that the winter and spring mid-tropospheric warming may, in part, be driven by tropical ocean warming, analogous to proposed mechanisms for the co-located surface warming. The spring and summer lower stratospheric cooling is entirely consistent with the temperature response to ozone depletion

Cyclic loading of tendon fascicles using a novel fatigue loading system increases interleukin-6 expression by tenocytes

Repetitive strain or ‘overuse’ is thought to be a major factor contributing to the development of tendinopathy. The aims of our study were to develop a novel cyclic loading system, and use it to investigate the effect of defined loading conditions on the mechanical properties and gene expression of isolated tendon fascicles. Tendon fascicles were dissected from bovine-foot extensors and subjected to cyclic tensile strain (1 Hz) at 30% or 60% of the strain at failure, for 0 h (control), 15 min, 30 min, 1 h, or 5 h. Post loading, a quasi-static test to failure assessed damage. Gene expression at a selected loading regime (1 h at 30% failure strain) was analyzed 6 h post loading by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Compared with unloaded controls, loading at 30% failure strain took 5 h to lead to a significant decrease in failure stress, whereas loading to 60% led to a significant reduction after 15 min. Loading for 1 h at 30% failure strain did not create significant structural damage, but increased Collagen-1-alpha-chain-1 and interleukin-6 (IL6) expression, suggesting a role of IL6 in tendon adaptation to exercise. Correlating failure properties with fatigue damage provides a method by which changes in gene expression can be associated with different degrees of fatigue damage

Mixed layer temperature response to the southern annular mode: Mechanisms and model representation

Previous studies have shown that simulated sea surface temperature (SST) responses to the southern annular mode (SAM) in phase 3 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP3) climate models compare poorly to the observed response. The reasons behind these model inaccuracies are explored. The ocean mixed layer heat budget is examined in four of the CMIP3 models and by using observations- reanalyses. The SST response to the SAM is predominantly driven by sensible and latent heat flux and Ekman heat transport anomalies. The radiative heat fluxes play a lesser but nonnegligible role. Errors in the simulated SST responses are traced back to deficiencies in the atmospheric response to the SAM. The models exaggerate the surface wind response to the SAM leading to large unrealistic Ekman transport anomalies. During the positive phase of the SAM, this results in excessive simulated cooling in the 40°-65°S latitudes. Problems with the simulated wind stress responses, which relate partly to errors in the simulated winds themselves and partly to the transfer coefficients used in the models, are a key cause of the errors in the SST response. In the central Pacific sector (90°-150°W), errors arise because the simulated SAM is too zonally symmetric. Substantial errors in the net shortwave radiation are also found, resulting from a poor repre- sentation of the changes in cloud cover associated with the SAM. The problems in the simulated SST re- sponses shown by this study are comparable to deficiencies previously identified in the CMIP3 multimodel mean. Therefore, it is likely that the deficiencies identified here are common to other climate models

Simulated Atmospheric Response to Regional and Pan-Arctic Sea-Ice Loss

This is the final version of the article. Available from American Meteorological Society via the DOI in this record.The loss of Arctic sea-ice is already having profound environmental, societal and ecological impacts locally. A highly uncertain area of scientific research, however, is whether such Arctic change has a tangible effect on weather and climate at lower latitudes. There is emerging evidence that the geographical location of sea-ice loss is critically important in determining the large-scale atmospheric circulation response and associated mid-latitude impacts. However, such regional dependencies have not been explored in a thorough and systematic manner. To make progress on this issue, this study analyses ensemble simulations with an atmospheric general circulation model prescribed with sea-ice loss separately in nine regions of the Arctic, to elucidate the distinct responses to regional sea-ice loss. The results suggest that in some regions sea-ice loss triggers large-scale dynamical responses whereas in other regions sea-ice loss induces only local thermodynamical changes. Sea-ice loss in the Barents- Kara Sea is unique in driving a weakening of the stratospheric polar vortex, followed in time by a tropospheric circulation response that resembles the North Atlantic Oscillation. For October-to-March, the largest spatial-scale responses are driven by sea-ice loss in the Barents-Kara Sea and Sea of Okhotsk; however, different regions assume greater importance in other seasons. The atmosphere responds very differently to regional sea-ice losses than to pan-Arctic sea-ice loss, and the latter cannot be obtained by linear addition of the responses to regional sea-ice losses. The results imply that diversity in past studies of the simulated response to Arctic sea-ice loss can be partly explained by the different spatial patterns of sea- ice loss imposed.This work was supported by Natural Environment Research Council grants NE/J019585/1 and NE/M006123/1

Increasing fall-winter energy loss from the Arctic Ocean and its role in Arctic temperature amplification

Copyright © 2010 American Geophysical UnionArctic surface temperatures have risen faster than the global average in recent decades, in part due to positive feedbacks associated with the rapidly diminishing sea ice cover. Counter-intuitively, the Arctic warming has been strongest in late fall and early winter whilst sea ice reductions and the direct ice-albedo feedback have been greatest in summer and early fall. To reconcile this, previous studies have hypothesized that fall/winter Arctic warming has been enhanced by increased oceanic heat loss but have not presented quantitative evidence. Here we show increases in heat transfer from the Arctic Ocean to the overlying atmosphere during October–January, 1989–2009. The trends in surface air temperature, sea ice concentration and the surface heat fluxes display remarkable spatial correspondence. The increased oceanic heat loss is likely a combination of the direct response to fall/winter sea ice loss, and the indirect response to summer sea ice loss and increased summer ocean heating