title: IntCal09 and Marine09 radiocarbon age calibration curves, 0-50,000yeats cal BP

authors: Reimer, Paula J.

subjects: radiocarbon

abstract: The IntCal04 and Marine04 radiocarbon calibration curves have been updated from 12 cal kBP (cal kBP is here defined as thousands of calibrated years before AD 1950), and extended to 50 cal kBP, utilizing newly available data sets that meet the IntCal Working Group criteria for pristine corals and other carbonates and for quantification of uncertainty in both the 14C and calendar timescales as established in 2002. No change was made to the curves from 0–12 cal kBP. The curves were constructed using a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) implementation of the random walk model used for IntCal04 and Marine04. The new curves were ratified at the 20th International Radiocarbon Conference in June 2009 and are available in the Supplemental Material at www.radiocarbon.org.

text: IntCal09 and Marine09 radiocarbon age calibration curves, 0-50,000yeats cal BP The IntCal04 and Marine04 radiocarbon calibration curves have been updated from 12 cal kBP (cal kBP is here defined as thousands of calibrated years before AD 1950), and extended to 50 cal kBP, utilizing newly available data sets that meet the IntCal Working Group criteria for pristine corals and other carbonates and for quantification of uncertainty in both the 14C and calendar timescales as established in 2002. No change was made to the curves from 0–12 cal kBP. The curves were constructed using a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) implementation of the random walk model used for IntCal04 and Marine04. The new curves were ratified at the 20th International Radiocarbon Conference in June 2009 and are available in the Supplemental Material at www.radiocarbon.org.

year: 2009

title: The role of connexin36 gap junctions in modulating the hypnotic effects of isoflurane and propofol in mice

authors: Jacobson, Gregory M.

subjects: Connexin36

abstract: Gap junction blockade is a possible mechanism by which general anaesthetic drugs cause unconsciousness. We measured the sensitivity of connexin36 knockout mice to the hypnotic effects of isoflurane and propofol. The experimental endpoint was recovery of the righting reflex of the anaesthetised animals during 0.2% step-reductions in isoflurane concentration, or following intraperitoneal injection of propofol (100 mg.kg⁻¹). Connexin36 knockout animals were more sensitive to the hypnotic effects of isoflurane than ‘normal’ wild-type animals. The half maximal effective concentration (EC50) for recovery of righting reflex was 0.37% for connexin36 knockout vs 0.49% for wild-type animals (p < 0.001). For propofol, connnexin36 knockout animals showed more rapid loss of righting reflex than wild-type animals (mean (SD) 2.8 (0.13) vs 3.8 (0.27) min); and young (< 60 days) connexin36 knockout animals remained anaesthetised for longer than young wild-type mice (47.2 (2.9) vs 30.5 (1.7) min; p < 0.00001). These findings suggest that the hypnotic effects of anaesthetic drugs may be moderately enhanced by gap junction blockade.

text: The role of connexin36 gap junctions in modulating the hypnotic effects of isoflurane and propofol in mice Gap junction blockade is a possible mechanism by which general anaesthetic drugs cause unconsciousness. We measured the sensitivity of connexin36 knockout mice to the hypnotic effects of isoflurane and propofol. The experimental endpoint was recovery of the righting reflex of the anaesthetised animals during 0.2% step-reductions in isoflurane concentration, or following intraperitoneal injection of propofol (100 mg.kg⁻¹). Connexin36 knockout animals were more sensitive to the hypnotic effects of isoflurane than ‘normal’ wild-type animals. The half maximal effective concentration (EC50) for recovery of righting reflex was 0.37% for connexin36 knockout vs 0.49% for wild-type animals (p < 0.001). For propofol, connnexin36 knockout animals showed more rapid loss of righting reflex than wild-type animals (mean (SD) 2.8 (0.13) vs 3.8 (0.27) min); and young (< 60 days) connexin36 knockout animals remained anaesthetised for longer than young wild-type mice (47.2 (2.9) vs 30.5 (1.7) min; p < 0.00001). These findings suggest that the hypnotic effects of anaesthetic drugs may be moderately enhanced by gap junction blockade.

year: 2011

title: Translated application interfaces - issues of engagement

authors: Mato, Paora James

abstract: In New Zealand, English is the language that dominates contemporary technologies. Usability testing was completed on a range of applications, available with a Māori-language interface, to gauge levels of awareness, engagement and perception. Nearly all of the respondents were unaware of the availability of these interfaces but most indicated they would prefer to use the Māori-language versions. In terms of engagement and usability, users initially engaged using Māori but switched to English when they wanted to quickly complete the task at hand. Few remained fully engaged with the Māori-language interfaces. High levels of language switching were reported and some frustration as the participants encountered new and unfamiliar uses of words. At face value the feedback suggests the translated interfaces contained unnecessary complications and that better design and content might have enhanced the user experience. However, there is evidence that extended use would enable users to become more familiar with the interfaces alluding to initial barriers created by a previous competence in another language -- in this case English. With this previous competence in mind it might be more useful to employ design concepts that would alleviate initial difficulties and serve to keep the user engaged in the target language for longer periods of time.

text: Translated application interfaces - issues of engagement In New Zealand, English is the language that dominates contemporary technologies. Usability testing was completed on a range of applications, available with a Māori-language interface, to gauge levels of awareness, engagement and perception. Nearly all of the respondents were unaware of the availability of these interfaces but most indicated they would prefer to use the Māori-language versions. In terms of engagement and usability, users initially engaged using Māori but switched to English when they wanted to quickly complete the task at hand. Few remained fully engaged with the Māori-language interfaces. High levels of language switching were reported and some frustration as the participants encountered new and unfamiliar uses of words. At face value the feedback suggests the translated interfaces contained unnecessary complications and that better design and content might have enhanced the user experience. However, there is evidence that extended use would enable users to become more familiar with the interfaces alluding to initial barriers created by a previous competence in another language -- in this case English. With this previous competence in mind it might be more useful to employ design concepts that would alleviate initial difficulties and serve to keep the user engaged in the target language for longer periods of time.

year: 2015