title: The Effect of Low Dose Alcohol on Simulated Driving and Cognitive Performance

authors: Beard, Paula Joanne

subjects: Alcohol

abstract: The current study investigated the effect of alcohol on simulated driving and cognitive performance across multiple blood alcohol levels (0.00, 0.02, 0.05 & 0.08%).  The main objective was examine if the effect of alcohol was dose and task dependent and whether there was a mismatch in the development of acute tolerance across subjective and objective measures.  Thirty participants (male & female) completed a simulated drive that comprised a rural highway which was divided into low and high traffic segments.  In the driving scenario, a range of measures including speed maintenance, sign detection and hazard reaction were collected.  Participants also completed a computer administered continuous performance test, a subjective measure of intoxication and had their breath alcohol level recorded.  The experiment included a pre-alcohol, intoxicated and two post alcohol recovery conditions in which the measures were repeated at the same time intervals.  Results showed no significant impairments in accelerator or brake reaction time but there was a significant increase in the number of crashes which increased in a dose dependent manner.  There were no significant impairments in the sign detection task but traffic density was found to impair driving performance particularly in the heavy traffic segments.   A significant Group*Density*Road interaction was also found, where the 0.05% group had a higher maximum speed on Road 4 than on Road 3 in the heavy traffic (70km/h) zone.  There were no significant findings for the development of acute tolerance.

text: The Effect of Low Dose Alcohol on Simulated Driving and Cognitive Performance The current study investigated the effect of alcohol on simulated driving and cognitive performance across multiple blood alcohol levels (0.00, 0.02, 0.05 & 0.08%).  The main objective was examine if the effect of alcohol was dose and task dependent and whether there was a mismatch in the development of acute tolerance across subjective and objective measures.  Thirty participants (male & female) completed a simulated drive that comprised a rural highway which was divided into low and high traffic segments.  In the driving scenario, a range of measures including speed maintenance, sign detection and hazard reaction were collected.  Participants also completed a computer administered continuous performance test, a subjective measure of intoxication and had their breath alcohol level recorded.  The experiment included a pre-alcohol, intoxicated and two post alcohol recovery conditions in which the measures were repeated at the same time intervals.  Results showed no significant impairments in accelerator or brake reaction time but there was a significant increase in the number of crashes which increased in a dose dependent manner.  There were no significant impairments in the sign detection task but traffic density was found to impair driving performance particularly in the heavy traffic segments.   A significant Group*Density*Road interaction was also found, where the 0.05% group had a higher maximum speed on Road 4 than on Road 3 in the heavy traffic (70km/h) zone.  There were no significant findings for the development of acute tolerance.

year: 2012

title: The advantage of growing on moss: facilitative effects on photosynthetic performance and growth in the cyanobacterial lichen Peltigera rufescens

authors: Colesie, Claudia

subjects: association

abstract: Facilitative effects and plant–plant interactions are well known for higher plants, but there is a lack of information about their relevance in cryptogams. Additional information about facilitative effects between bryophytes and lichens would be an important contribution to recent research on positive plant–plant interactions, as these can have striking influences not only on the organisation of early successional terrestrial communities but also on succession dynamics by kick-starting ecosystem development through the import of key nutrients. We investigated and quantified these mechanisms between Peltigera rufescens and its associated mosses. Moss-associated thalli had a different morphology that led to several benefits from the association. They had 66% higher net photosynthetic rate and, because the majority of the gas exchange of lichen thalli took place through the lower surface, there was a further increase as the CO₂ concentration was >25% higher beneath moss-associated thalli. Microclimatic measurements showed that mean light levels were substantially lower and temperature extremes slightly ameliorated for moss-associated thalli. As a consequence, desiccation was slower which is, together with an increase in thallus thickness and water storage, the reason for extended periods of optimal net photosynthesis for the moss-associated thalli. All these beneWts combined to produce a growth rate of the moss-associated thalli which was significantly higher, twice that of non-associated thalli [0.75 ± 0.4 vs. 0.30 ± 0.1 mm/ month (mean ± SD)]. This appears to be the first demonstration of a strong mechanistic basis for facilitative effects between lichens and bryophytes.

text: The advantage of growing on moss: facilitative effects on photosynthetic performance and growth in the cyanobacterial lichen Peltigera rufescens Facilitative effects and plant–plant interactions are well known for higher plants, but there is a lack of information about their relevance in cryptogams. Additional information about facilitative effects between bryophytes and lichens would be an important contribution to recent research on positive plant–plant interactions, as these can have striking influences not only on the organisation of early successional terrestrial communities but also on succession dynamics by kick-starting ecosystem development through the import of key nutrients. We investigated and quantified these mechanisms between Peltigera rufescens and its associated mosses. Moss-associated thalli had a different morphology that led to several benefits from the association. They had 66% higher net photosynthetic rate and, because the majority of the gas exchange of lichen thalli took place through the lower surface, there was a further increase as the CO₂ concentration was >25% higher beneath moss-associated thalli. Microclimatic measurements showed that mean light levels were substantially lower and temperature extremes slightly ameliorated for moss-associated thalli. As a consequence, desiccation was slower which is, together with an increase in thallus thickness and water storage, the reason for extended periods of optimal net photosynthesis for the moss-associated thalli. All these beneWts combined to produce a growth rate of the moss-associated thalli which was significantly higher, twice that of non-associated thalli [0.75 ± 0.4 vs. 0.30 ± 0.1 mm/ month (mean ± SD)]. This appears to be the first demonstration of a strong mechanistic basis for facilitative effects between lichens and bryophytes.

year: 2011

title: Te Pae Mahutonga and the measurement of community capital in regional Aotearoa New Zealand

authors: Ryks, John

abstract: Regionally, iwi and hapū have limited influence over structural changes such as population decline, proximity to labour markets and ageing, and to some extent economic cycles. However, there is still considerable value in thinking about how relevant indicators might point to the regeneration and overall well-being of Māori communities. In this paper we present an exploratory framework that links Durie’s Te Pae Mahutonga model of Māori well-being to the measurement of community capital. We use Te Pae Mahutonga as the basis for developing a number of key indicators for understanding Māori well-being in the regions and apply the framework and indicators to three regional settlements in Aotearoa New Zealand: Pōkeno, Huntly and Ōpōtiki.

text: Te Pae Mahutonga and the measurement of community capital in regional Aotearoa New Zealand Regionally, iwi and hapū have limited influence over structural changes such as population decline, proximity to labour markets and ageing, and to some extent economic cycles. However, there is still considerable value in thinking about how relevant indicators might point to the regeneration and overall well-being of Māori communities. In this paper we present an exploratory framework that links Durie’s Te Pae Mahutonga model of Māori well-being to the measurement of community capital. We use Te Pae Mahutonga as the basis for developing a number of key indicators for understanding Māori well-being in the regions and apply the framework and indicators to three regional settlements in Aotearoa New Zealand: Pōkeno, Huntly and Ōpōtiki.

year: 2018