title: Māori & Psychology Research Unit annual report 2011

authors: Rua, Mohi

subjects: Māori and Psychology Research Unit

abstract: Annual report of the Māori and Psychology Research Unit (MPRU) 2011. The unit was established in August of 1997. The unit is designed to provide a catalyst and support network for enhancing research concerning the psychological needs, aspirations, and priorities of Maori people. The MPRU is well situated to draw together skilled and experienced interdisciplinary research groups by networking and establishing working relationships with staff and students within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the University, and the wider community.

text: Māori & Psychology Research Unit annual report 2011 Annual report of the Māori and Psychology Research Unit (MPRU) 2011. The unit was established in August of 1997. The unit is designed to provide a catalyst and support network for enhancing research concerning the psychological needs, aspirations, and priorities of Maori people. The MPRU is well situated to draw together skilled and experienced interdisciplinary research groups by networking and establishing working relationships with staff and students within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the University, and the wider community.

year: 2012

title: The Google Translator Toolkit and minority languages case study: Translating Moodle 2.0 into te reo Māori

authors: Manuirirangi, Hōri

abstract: This paper describes a case study where the Google Translator Toolkit (GTT) was used to undertake a large translation task involving a minority language. The task involved the translation of 50,000 interface terms of the Moodle learning management system into te reo Māori (the Māori language).  

The paper begins by describing how some minority languages are not in an environment where technology can be easily used for translations. It then suggests that te reo Māori however, is in a position to use technology and suggests some technologies that are suitable. The paper then briefly describes the GTT and the translation task that this tool was used for. The translators' feedback on the use of this technology in this environment is summarised and it appears that the GTT is suitable to be used by minority language translators.

text: The Google Translator Toolkit and minority languages case study: Translating Moodle 2.0 into te reo Māori This paper describes a case study where the Google Translator Toolkit (GTT) was used to undertake a large translation task involving a minority language. The task involved the translation of 50,000 interface terms of the Moodle learning management system into te reo Māori (the Māori language).  

The paper begins by describing how some minority languages are not in an environment where technology can be easily used for translations. It then suggests that te reo Māori however, is in a position to use technology and suggests some technologies that are suitable. The paper then briefly describes the GTT and the translation task that this tool was used for. The translators' feedback on the use of this technology in this environment is summarised and it appears that the GTT is suitable to be used by minority language translators.

year: 2011

title: Canine accuracy in the scent detection and discrimination of invasive fish

authors: Seal, Laura Claire

abstract: The scent-detection accuracy of dogs (Canis familiaris) was assessed as they learned to discriminate between water samples from aquaria containing koi carp (Cyprinus carpio), goldfish (Carassius auratus) or no fish, at systematically diluted concentrations. The study was conducted using an automated apparatus. Three dogs were trained in a go/no-go task where hits on target (koi carp) samples were reinforced and correct rejections of non-target (goldfish and no-fish) samples had no programmed consequences. Conducting a control test indicated that the dogs’ accuracy measures were likely influenced by extraneous variables. Consequently, modifications were made to procedures and the apparatus. A multiple-probe design experiment found the dogs were able to detect koi carp scent at all of the concentrations tested (from 0.098 mL/100 mL to 0.00094 mL/100 mL), equivalent to an effective biomass range of between 72.5 and 0.4 kg/ha. No clear relationship between accuracy measures and the systematic dilution of the sample concentration was observed for any of the dogs. A test of the dogs’ accuracy with the samples removed from the apparatus suggested that volatiles evaporating from the sampled aquarium water may have been accumulating in the segments as the dogs continued to respond according to the status of the samples that were previously in each segment. Sensitivity was found to be similar across first trials and second trials for target samples. Specificity was found to increase for non-target samples from first trials to second trials. These results have significant practical implications for the use of scent-detection dogs for koi carp detection and the further development of research methods for their training and assessment.

text: Canine accuracy in the scent detection and discrimination of invasive fish The scent-detection accuracy of dogs (Canis familiaris) was assessed as they learned to discriminate between water samples from aquaria containing koi carp (Cyprinus carpio), goldfish (Carassius auratus) or no fish, at systematically diluted concentrations. The study was conducted using an automated apparatus. Three dogs were trained in a go/no-go task where hits on target (koi carp) samples were reinforced and correct rejections of non-target (goldfish and no-fish) samples had no programmed consequences. Conducting a control test indicated that the dogs’ accuracy measures were likely influenced by extraneous variables. Consequently, modifications were made to procedures and the apparatus. A multiple-probe design experiment found the dogs were able to detect koi carp scent at all of the concentrations tested (from 0.098 mL/100 mL to 0.00094 mL/100 mL), equivalent to an effective biomass range of between 72.5 and 0.4 kg/ha. No clear relationship between accuracy measures and the systematic dilution of the sample concentration was observed for any of the dogs. A test of the dogs’ accuracy with the samples removed from the apparatus suggested that volatiles evaporating from the sampled aquarium water may have been accumulating in the segments as the dogs continued to respond according to the status of the samples that were previously in each segment. Sensitivity was found to be similar across first trials and second trials for target samples. Specificity was found to increase for non-target samples from first trials to second trials. These results have significant practical implications for the use of scent-detection dogs for koi carp detection and the further development of research methods for their training and assessment.

year: 2019