Dynamic Levels in Classical and Romantic Keyboard Music: Effect of Musical Mode

An analysis of dynamic markings in 140 works representing three musical periods (Classical, early Romantic, late Romantic) is reported. We tested the hypothesis that minor-mode music from the Romantic period is more likely to exhibit louder dynamic levels than minor-mode music from the Classical period. This hypothesis was motivated by the theory that in the Romantic period, in addition to conveying sadness, the minor mode was more likely to be used to convey affects that are associated with higher dynamic levels, such as seriousness, passion or aggression. Our analysis showed no absolute differences regarding the notated dynamic levels of the minor-mode pieces. However, regardless of the musical mode, pieces from the earlier period exhibited higher dynamic levels than pieces from the later periods. This effect is attributable to a decrease in dynamics for major-mode pieces in later musical periods, while minor-mode pieces do not show a change in dynamics over time. Using the mean dynamic level for each period as a reference, these observations are consistent with the theory that Romantic music is more likely than Classical music to employ the minor mode to represent or convey affects that are associated with higher dynamic levels

Einstieg ins Simultandolmetschen

In der Arbeit "Einstieg ins Simultandolmetschen: Herausforderungen zu Beginn der Dolmetschausbildung." wird ein Überblick über die Herausforderungen gegeben, die ganz zu Beginn der Ausbildung zur Dolmetscherin oder zum Dolmetscher bewältigt werden müssen. Dabei wird sowohl auf curriculare Aspekte als auch auf die zu erlernenden Teilkompetenzen eingegangen.Im Anschluss daran werden zwei empirische Studien zum Thema Einstiegsschwierigkeiten vorgestellt, die die Grundlage für eine neue empirische Untersuchung am Zentrum für Translationswissenschaft in Wien darstellen. Diese Untersuchung basiert auf subjektiven Einschätzungen seitens der Studierenden, die vor und nach ihrem ersten Einsatz in einer Dolmetschkabine befragt wurden. Bei der Befragung wird sowohl auf dolmetschrelevante Teilkompetenzen als auch das psychische Befinden der Studierenden eingegangen. Die Ergebnisse werden im vierten Kapitel der Arbeit ausführlich dargestellt und besprochen.The master thesis "Einstieg ins Simultandolmetschen: Herausforderungen zu Beginn der Dolmetschausbildung" (At the starting point to simultaneous interpretation: challenges at the beginning of interpretation studies) gives an overview of challenges to be met by students at the beginning of interpreting training. Special attention is paid to curricular issues as well as the different skills to be acquired. In the second part of the thesis, two empirical studies which focus on difficulties at the very beginning of interpreting training are introduced. These studies form the basis for the empirical study carried out for this thesis at the Center of Translation Studies, University of Vienna. This study is based on subjective assessments by the students who filled out the corresponding questionnaire before and after their first interpreting session in a booth. The questionnaire covers skills relevant for interpreting as well as the students’ mental conditions during interpreting. The results of the study are presented and discussed in detail in the fourth chapter of the paper

Evaluation of the endotoxin binding efficiency of clay minerals using the Limulus Amebocyte lysate test: an in vitro study

Endotoxins are part of the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria. They are potent immune stimulators and can lead to death if present in high concentrations. Feed additives, which bind endotoxins in the gastrointestinal tract of animals, could help to prevent their negative impact. The objective of our study was to determine the potential of a bentonite (Bentonite 1),a sodium bentonite (Bentonite 2),a chemically treated smectite (Organoclay 1) and a modified attapulgite (Organoclay 2) to bind endotoxins in vitro. Polymyxin B served as positive control. The kinetic chromogenic Limulus Amebocyte lysate test was adapted to measure endotoxin activity. Firstly, a single sorption experiment (10 endotoxin units/mL (EU/mL)) was performed. Polymyxin B and organoclays showed 100% binding efficiency. Secondly, the adsorption efficiency of sorbents in aqueous solution with increasing endotoxin concentrations (2, 450 - 51, 700 EU/mL) was investigated. Organoclay 1 (0.1%) showed a good binding efficiency in aqueous solution (average 81%),whereas Bentonite 1 (0.1%) obtained a lower binding efficiency (21-54%). The following absorbent capacities were calculated in highest endotoxin concentration: 5.59 mg/g (Organoclay 1) > 3.97 mg/g (Polymyxin B) > 2.58mg/g (Organoclay 2) > 1.55 mg/g (Bentonite 1) > 1.23 mg/g (Bentonite 2). Thirdly, a sorption experiment in artificial intestinal fluid was conducted. Especially for organoclays, which are known to be unspecific adsorbents, the endotoxin binding capacity was significantly reduced. In contrast, Bentonite 1 showed comparable results in artificial intestinal fluid and aqueous solution. Based on the results of this in vitro study, the effect of promising clay minerals will be investigated in in vivo trials

Different sample types in pigs challenged with Haemophilus parasuis following two treatment schemes with tulathromycin

This study aimed to test the efficacy of samplings for the detection of Haemophilus parasuis after metaphylactic treatment and subsequent challenge using an established model for Glässer’s disease. In this model, 36 piglets were equally assigned to a negative control, a positive control, and two trial groups receiving tulathromycin 7 or 4 days prior to challenge. The piglets of three groups were challenged intratracheally with H. parasuis serovar 5. As a result, four pigs in each challenged group died or had to be euthanised within 10 days post challenge. The remaining 15 pigs of these challenged groups survived until termination of the experiment (days 14–15). All pigs were necropsied and collective swabs of serosal surfaces were tested by bacterial culture and PCR. Samples of tarsal synovial fluid and joint capsule, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain swabs were tested by PCR. A total of 22 out of the 27 challenged animals had macroscopically detectable polyserositis and all of them tested positive in the collective swab samples. Haemophilus parasuis was more frequently detected in pigs that died within the first 10 days compared to those surviving until days 14–15 (P < 0.001), and those that succumbed within 10 days showed higher positivity rates in the brain and CSF. All pigs which were positive in the CSF had detectable meningitis. At days 14–15, joint samples from 5 of the remaining 15 pigs tested positive for H. parasuis. Four of these five animals did not show any macroscopic or histological lesions in the joints. In conclusion, collective swabs were the best sample material in acute cases, whereas samples from the joints gave the best results in chronic cases. In this challenge model it was not possible to prove the metaphylactic effect of tulathromycin administered 4 and 7 days prior to infection with H. parasuis