Creating a German–Basque electronic dictionary for German learners

In this paper, we introduce the new electronic dictionary project EuDeLex, which is currently being worked on at UPV-EHU University of the Basque Country. The introduction addresses the need for and functions of a new electronic dictionary for that language pair, as well as general considerations about bilingual lexicography and German as foreign language (GFL). The language pair German–Basque, which can be called less-resourced or medium-density, does not have any lexicographical antecedents that could be updated or adapted. Nevertheless, existing monolingual lexicographical databases and a newly created German–Basque parallel corpus support the editing process of the new dictionary. We explain our workflow in macrostructure and microstructure design and editing, and propose a first iteration of the online user interface and publishing process.Keywords: Bilingual lexicography, electronic dictionaries, Basque language, German as foreign language, parallel corpora, user interface, wiktionaryDie samestelling van 'n Duits–Baskiese elektroniese woordeboek vir Duitse aanleerdersIn hierdie artikel word EuDeLex, die nuwe projek vir 'n elektroniese woordeboek wat tans aan die UPV-EHU Universiteit van die baskiese gebied saamgestel word, bespreek. In die inleiding word gewys op die behoefte aan en funksies van 'n nuwe elektroniese woordeboek vir hierdie taalpaar asook algemene aspekte van tweetalige leksikografie met Duits as vreemde taal. Die taalpaar Duits–Baskies, waarna verwys kan word as 'n taalpaar met minder hulpmiddele en medium digtheid, het geen leksikografiese voorgangers wat hersien of aangepas kan word nie. Desondanks word die samestellingsproses van 'n nuwe woordeboek ondersteun deur bestaande eentalige leksikografiese databasisse en 'n nuwe Duits–Baskiese parallelkorpus. Die werkswyse word bespreek m.b.t. die ontwerp van die makro- en mikrostruktuur en die redigering, en voorstelle word gemaak vir 'n eerste weergawe van 'n aanlyn koppelvlak en die publikasieproses.Sleutelwoorde: Baskiese taal, Duits as vreemde taal, elektroniese woordeboeke, gebruikerskoppelvlak, parallelkorpora, tweetalige leksikografie, wiktionar

Melting and Rippling Phenomenan in Two Dimensional Crystals with localized bonding

We calculate Root Mean Square (RMS) deviations from equilibrium for atoms in a two dimensional crystal with local (e.g. covalent) bonding between close neighbors. Large scale Monte Carlo calculations are in good agreement with analytical results obtained in the harmonic approximation. When motion is restricted to the plane, we find a slow (logarithmic) increase in fluctuations of the atoms about their equilibrium positions as the crystals are made larger and larger. We take into account fluctuations perpendicular to the lattice plane, manifest as undulating ripples, by examining dual layer systems with coupling between the layers to impart local rigidly (i.e. as in sheets of graphene made stiff by their finite thickness). Surprisingly, we find a rapid divergence with increasing system size in the vertical mean square deviations, independent of the strength of the interplanar coupling. We consider an attractive coupling to a flat substrate, finding that even a weak attraction significantly limits the amplitude and average wavelength of the ripples. We verify our results are generic by examining a variety of distinct geometries, obtaining the same phenomena in each case.Comment: 17 pages, 28 figure

Rapid and efficient stable gene transfer to mesenchymal stromal cells using a modified foamy virus vector

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) hold great promise for regenerative medicine. Stable ex vivo gene transfer to MSCs could improve the outcome and scope of MSC therapy, but current vectors require multiple rounds of transduction, involve genotoxic viral promoters and/or the addition of cytotoxic cationic polymers in order to achieve efficient transduction. We describe a self-inactivating foamy virus vector (FVV), incorporating the simian macaque foamy virus envelope and using physiological promoters, which efficiently transduces murine MSCs (mMSCs) in a single-round. High and sustained expression of the transgene, whether GFP or the lysosomal enzyme, arylsulphatase A (ARSA), was achieved. Defining MSC characteristics (surface marker expression and differentiation potential), as well as long-term engraftment and distribution in the murine brain following intracerebroventricular delivery, are unaffected by FVV transduction. Similarly, greater than 95% of human MSCs (hMSCs) were stably transduced using the same vector, facilitating human application. This work describes the best stable gene transfer vector available for mMSCs and hMSCs

A High-Sensitivity Radon Emanation Detector System for Future Low-Background Experiments

Radioactive radon atoms originating from the long-lived primordial $^{238}\mathrm{U}$ and $^{232}\mathrm{Th}$ decay chains are constantly emanated from the surfaces of most materials. The radon atoms or their radioactive daughter isotopes can significantly contribute to the background of low-background experiments, e.g., the $^{222}\mathrm{Rn}$ progeny $^{214}\mathrm{Pb}$ dominates the background of liquid xenon detectors which are currently leading the direct search for WIMP dark matter. We report on a new detector system to directly quantify the $^{222}\mathrm{Rn}$ surface emanation of materials. Using cryogenic physisorption traps, emanated radon atoms are transferred from an independent emanation vessel and concentrated inside the dedicated detection vessel, where the charged daughter isotopes, most importantly $^{214}\mathrm{Po}$ and $^{218}\mathrm{Po}$, are electrostatically collected and detected on a silicon PIN photodiode. The overall detection efficiency is $\sim 36\,\%$ for both polonium channels. The intrinsic detection vessel background was measured to be $\sim 2.4\,\mathrm{cpd}$ ($28\,\mathrm{\mu Bq}$) and $\sim 1.5\,\mathrm{cpd}$ ($17\,\mathrm{\mu Bq}$) for $^{218}\mathrm{Po}$ and $^{214}\mathrm{Po}$, respectively. The radon emanation activity of the emanation vessel was determined to be $(0.16\pm 0.03)\,\mathrm{mBq}$, resulting in a detection sensitivity of $\sim 59\,\mathrm{\mu Bq}$ (at $90\,\%$ C.L.).Comment: 13 pages, 3 figure

Effect of Folic Acid Supplementation and Dietary Protein Level on Growth Performance, Serum Chemistry and Immune Response in Weanling Piglets Fed Differing Concentrations of Aflatoxin

Effects of folic acid and protein levels on growth and serum chemistry in pigs fed aflatoxin were determined in two experiments. Increasing aflatoxin (250 to 800 ppb) decreased (P \u3c 0.05) weight gain and feed intake for both of the 35-day trials. In Experiment 1, increasing aflatoxin (0, 250, 500 ppb), increased linearly (P \u3c 0.05) aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) and ɣ-glutamyl transferase (GGT). Folic acid (0, 2.0, 5.0, 12.5 ppm) increased linearly (P \u3c 0.05) serum K, Ca, P, Mg, and AST with the largest effect observed at 12.5 ppm. Folic acid decreased (P \u3c 0.05) blood urea nitrogen (BUN): creatinine and Na:K. In Experiment 2, aflatoxin (800 ppb) increased (P \u3c 0.05) glucose and GGT, and decreased (P \u3c 0.05) Na:K and albumin:globulin. Increasing protein from 15 to 18% elevated BUN: creatinine (P \u3c 0.05), albumin: globulin (P \u3c 0.05), albumin (P \u3c 0.05) and ALKP (P \u3c 0.05). Folic acid (2 ppm) elevated (P \u3c 0.05) BUN, and interacted with both aflatoxin (P \u3c 0.10) and protein (P \u3c 0.05) on BUN. Adding folic acid to aflatoxin contaminated diets improved some measures of clinical chemistry in Experiment 1 but not traditional growth performance measures. The higher protein level reduced the effects of aflatoxicosis on growth

Feeding live prey to zoo animals: response of zoo visitors in Switzerland

In summer 2007, with the help of a written questionnaire, the attitudes of more than 400 visitors to the zoological garden of Zurich, Switzerland, toward the idea of feeding live insects to lizards, live fish to otters, and live rabbits to tigers were investigated. The majority of Swiss zoo visitors agreed with the idea of feeding live prey (invertebrates and vertebrates) to zoo animals, both off- and on-exhibit, except in the case of feeding live rabbits to tigers on-exhibit. Women and frequent visitors of the zoo disagreed more often with the on-exhibit feeding of live rabbits to tigers. Study participants with a higher level of education were more likely to agree with the idea of feeding live invertebrates and vertebrates to zoo animals off-exhibit. In comparison to an earlier study undertaken in Scotland, zoo visitors in Switzerland were more often in favor of the live feeding of vertebrates. Feeding live prey can counter the loss of hunting skills of carnivores and improve the animals’ well-being. However, feeding enrichments have to strike a balance between optimal living conditions of animals and the quality of visitor experience. Our results show that such a balance can be found, especially when live feeding of mammals is carried out off-exhibit. A good interpretation of food enrichment might help zoos to win more support for the issue, and for re-introduction programs and conservation

Plasticization and antiplasticization of polymer melts diluted by low molar mass species

An analysis of glass formation for polymer melts that are diluted by structured molecular additives is derived by using the generalized entropy theory, which involves a combination of the Adam-Gibbs model and the direct computation of the configurational entropy based on a lattice model of polymer melts that includes monomer structural effects. Antiplasticization is accompanied by a "toughening" of the glass mixture relative to the pure polymer, and this effect is found to occur when the diluents are small species with strongly attractive interactions with the polymer matrix. Plasticization leads to a decreased glass transition temperature T_g and a "softening" of the fragile host polymer in the glass state. Plasticization is prompted by small additives with weakly attractive interactions with the polymer matrix. The shifts in T_g of polystyrene diluted by fully flexible short oligomers are evaluated from the computations, along with the relative changes in the isothermal compressibility at T_g to characterize the extent to which the additives act as antiplasticizers or plasticizers. The theory predicts that a decreased fragility can accompany both antiplasticization and plasticization of the glass by molecular additives. The general reduction in the T_g and fragility of polymers by these molecular additives is rationalized by analyzing the influence of the diluent's properties (cohesive energy, chain length, and stiffness) on glass formation in diluted polymer melts. The description of glass formation at fixed temperature that is induced upon change the fluid composition directly implies the Angell equation for the structural relaxation time as function of the polymer concentration, and the computed "zero mobility concentration" scales linearly with the inverse polymerization index N.Comment: 12 pages, 15 figure