What makes a good online dictionary? Empirical insights from an interdisciplinary research project

This paper presents empirical fmdings from two online surveys on the use of online dictionaries, in which more than 1,000 participants took part. The aim of these studies was to clarify general questions of online dictionary use (e.g. which electronic devices are used for online dictionaries or different types of usage situations) and to identify different demands regarding the use of online dictionaries. We will present some important results ofthis ongoing research project by focusing on the latter. Our analyses show that neither knowledge of the participants’ (scientific or academic) background, nor the language Version of the online survey (German vs. English) allow any significant conclusions to be drawn about the participant’s individual user demands. Subgroup analyses only reveal noteworthy differences when the groups are clustered statistically. Taken together, our fmdings shed light on the general lexicographical request both for the development of a user-adaptive interface and the incorporation of multimedia elements to make online dictionaries more user-friendly and innovative

Guiding cell adhesion and motility by modulating cross-linking and topographic properties of microgel arrays

Biomaterial-driven modulation of cell adhesion and migration is a challenging aspect of tissue engineering. Here, we investigated the impact of surface-bound microgel arrays with variable geometry and adjustable cross-linking properties on cell adhesion and migration. We show that cell migration is inversely correlated with microgel array spacing, whereas directionality increases as array spacing increases. Focal adhesion dynamics is also modulated by microgel topography resulting in less dynamic focal adhesions on surface-bound microgels. Microgels also modulate the motility and adhesion of Sertoli cells used as a model for cell migration and adhesion. Both focal adhesion dynamics and speed are reduced on microgels. Interestingly, Gas2L1, a component of the cytoskeleton that mediates the interaction between microtubules and microfilaments, is dispensable for the regulation of cell adhesion and migration on microgels. Finally, increasing microgel cross-linking causes a clear reduction of focal adhesion turnover in Sertoli cells. These findings not only show that spacing and rigidity of surface-grafted microgels arrays can be effectively used to modulate cell adhesion and motility of diverse cellular systems, but they also form the basis for future developments in the fields of medicine and tissue engineering

The genome of the seagrass Zostera marina reveals angiosperm adaptation to the sea

Seagrasses colonized the sea(1) on at least three independent occasions to form the basis of one of the most productive and widespread coastal ecosystems on the planet(2). Here we report the genome of Zostera marina (L.), the first, to our knowledge, marine angiosperm to be fully sequenced. This reveals unique insights into the genomic losses and gains involved in achieving the structural and physiological adaptations required for its marine lifestyle, arguably the most severe habitat shift ever accomplished by flowering plants. Key angiosperm innovations that were lost include the entire repertoire of stomatal genes(3), genes involved in the synthesis of terpenoids and ethylene signalling, and genes for ultraviolet protection and phytochromes for far-red sensing. Seagrasses have also regained functions enabling them to adjust to full salinity. Their cell walls contain all of the polysaccharides typical of land plants, but also contain polyanionic, low-methylated pectins and sulfated galactans, a feature shared with the cell walls of all macroalgae(4) and that is important for ion homoeostasis, nutrient uptake and O-2/CO2 exchange through leaf epidermal cells. The Z. marina genome resource will markedly advance a wide range of functional ecological studies from adaptation of marine ecosystems under climate warming(5,6), to unravelling the mechanisms of osmoregulation under high salinities that may further inform our understanding of the evolution of salt tolerance in crop plants(7)

Benutzerwünsche und Meinungen zu einer optimierten Wörterbuchpräsentation : Ergebnisse einer Onlinebefragung zu elexiko

Im vorliegenden Beitrag werden Ergebnisse aus zwei Benutzungsstudien präsentiert, die zum Wörterbuch elexiko im Januar bzw. März 2011 realisiert wurden. Wörterbuchbenutzungsforschung für ein neu konzipiertes, noch im Aufbau befindliches, umfangreiches Onlinewörterbuch zur deutschen Gegenwartssprache wie elexiko ist bislang nur in geringem Umfang durchgeführt worden.Dabei ist der Bedarf an Klärung der Benutzerbedürfnisse und -meinungen insgesamt groß. Solch eine Klärung kann einerseits als Bestätigung von Entscheidungen, die für Inhalt und Präsentation des Wörterbuchs getroffen wurden, dienen. Sie dient andererseits aber auch als Anregung für deren Verbesserung auf der Grundlage nicht vermeintlicher, sondern tatsächlicher Bedürfnisse und Meinungen zur Wörterbuchbenutzung

Benutzerwünsche und -meinungen zu dem monolingualen deutschen Onlinewörterbuch "elexiko"

In this paper, we present the concept and the results of two studies addressing (potential) users of monolingual German online dictionaries, such as www.elexiko.de. Drawing on the example of elexiko, the aim of those studies was to collect empirical data on possible extensions of the content of monolingual online dictionaries, e.g. the search function, to evaluate how users comprehend the terminology of the user interface, to find out which types of information are expected to be included in each specific lexicographic module and to investigate general questions regarding the function and reception of examples illustrating the use of a word. The design and distribution of the surveys is comparable to the studies described in the chapters 5-8 of this volume. We also explain, how the data obtained in our studies were used for further improvement of the elexiko-dictionary

Zur Funktion und Rezeption von Belegen – Ergebnisse einer Benutzungsstudie zum Onlinewörterbuch elexiko

Der Beitrag stellt die Ergebnisse einer Onlinebenutzungsstudie zur Funktion und Rezeption von Belegen im einsprachigen deutschen Onlinewörterbuch elexiko vor. Diese werden vor dem Hintergrund allgemeiner metalexikographischer und konzeptioneller Überlegungen interpretiert, ein Ausblick führt zu weiteren relevanten Fragestellungen.In this paper, the findings of an empirical online study on the function and reception of text citations in the German online dictionary elexiko are presented. They are interpreted against the background of general metalexicographic and conceptual considerations. In an Out-look, further questions on the integration of text citations into a dictionary focusing on the description of meaning and usage are discussed

BEAST input file, dating of Rocaseae

<p>Imput file used for the dating analysis of the plant family Rosaceae presented in:</p> <p> </p> <p>Töpel M. Antonelli A. Yesson C. Eriksen B. (2012) Past Climate Change and Plant Evolution in western North America: A Case Study in Rosaceae. PLoS ONE 7(12): e50358. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0050358.</p