peaked down

English translation: the lowest values were observed

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:peaked down
Selected answer:the lowest values were observed
Entered by: DLyons

16:06 Aug 21, 2014
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Science - Mathematics & Statistics / Describing ups and downs / peaks and troughs
English term or phrase: peaked down
SPAIN. Part of a text I'm revising/correcting, about "stoichiometry of invertebrate consumers ... in a Mediterranean stream". The phrase "peaked down" is obviously being used to mean "reached its lowest point", but I've never seen "peak" used this way. I'd normally say "bottomed out". I'd like to see some fellow translators' opinions on whether "peaked down" is appropriate/acceptable usage in this context. (The authors have also misspelt "peak" as "pick" in other sections of the text, so I'm reluctant to rely on their criteria).


"Changes in N:P ratios tightly mimicked C:P ones, as both were mainly driven by changes in P % (Table A2; Fig. 4). C:P ratios ***peaked down*** following stream flow cessation for all FFGs except for herbivores (Tukey’s test, P0.050). However, herbivore response slightly differed between taxa; Ancylus fluviatilis had higher C:P ratios in early spring than in the late recovery phase (Tukey’s test, P
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 13:37
Not a recommended usage
Explanation:
It's appears very occasionally e.g. "The landscaping business peaked down here in the late 90s" but not in reputable publications IMHO.

It's not clear if it actually means bottomed out though. To me, it implies that there was a local minimum with a subsequent rise.

Check the context I suggest.

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Note added at 20 mins (2014-08-21 16:27:23 GMT)
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Wiley's editors let it slip through in "Circannual Rhythms in Reproductive Functions of Human Males, Correlations among Hormones and Hormone-Dependent Parameters" but the authors are Italian.

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Note added at 3 days17 hrs (2014-08-25 09:36:47 GMT) Post-grading
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That seems like a good solution.
Selected response from:

DLyons
Ireland
Local time: 12:37
Grading comment
To avoid any doubts or ambiguity, the client preferred to reword it: "The lowest C:P ratios were observed..."
Thanks to everyone for the comments :-)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +2Not a recommended usage
DLyons
4reached a minimum
Oliver Walter
3reached a negative peak
Terry Richards


  

Answers


4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
reached a minimum


Explanation:
I agree with DL. I would think they mean what I would write as "reached a minimum" or "hit a minimum".
(Also FWIW, "closely mimicked", not "tightly mimicked")

Oliver Walter
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:37
Works in field
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Michael Barnett: I agree that your translation is the correct meaning. However the term "peaked" adds additional meaning. It implies a steep descent, a brief period at the minimum and then a steep ascent.
4 hrs

neutral  B D Finch: Not necessarily, as there could be more than one "downward peak" (though that is a really bad way of expressing it).
12 hrs
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14 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
reached a negative peak


Explanation:
Although "peaked down" is not a common construct, there's plenty of examples of "negative peaks". This has the advantage of preserving whatever information "peak" implies about the shape of the curve (although I suspect that isn't much!)

Terry Richards
France
Local time: 13:37
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  B D Finch: Otherwise known as a "trough".
2 hrs
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18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Not a recommended usage


Explanation:
It's appears very occasionally e.g. "The landscaping business peaked down here in the late 90s" but not in reputable publications IMHO.

It's not clear if it actually means bottomed out though. To me, it implies that there was a local minimum with a subsequent rise.

Check the context I suggest.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 20 mins (2014-08-21 16:27:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Wiley's editors let it slip through in "Circannual Rhythms in Reproductive Functions of Human Males, Correlations among Hormones and Hormone-Dependent Parameters" but the authors are Italian.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 days17 hrs (2014-08-25 09:36:47 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

That seems like a good solution.

DLyons
Ireland
Local time: 12:37
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 24
Grading comment
To avoid any doubts or ambiguity, the client preferred to reword it: "The lowest C:P ratios were observed..."
Thanks to everyone for the comments :-)
Notes to answerer
Asker: Cheers DL. I'll ask the client about it, but it's through an agency this time so will take a while ...


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tina Vonhof (X): Perhaps 'reached its lowest point'.
8 hrs
  -> Thanks Tina.

agree  B D Finch
16 hrs
  -> Thanks Barbara.
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