Quality, quantity and precision of depth perception in stereoscopic displays

Stereoscopic 3D viewing (S3D) can create a clear and compelling improvement in the quality of the 3D experience compared with 2D displays. This improvement is distinct from any change in the amount of depth perceived, or the apparent 3D shapes of objects and the distances between them. It has been suggested instead that the enhanced feeling of realness is associated more with the precision with which we see depth. We measured the contribution of stereoscopic cues to the quality of depth perception in simple abstract images and complex natural scenes. We varied the amount of disparity present in the simple scenes in order to dissociate the magnitude and precision of perceived depth. We show that the qualitative enhancement of perceived depth in stereoscopic displays can be readily quantified, and that it is more closely related to the precision than to the magnitude of apparent depth. It is thus possible to make a distinction between scenes that contain more depth, and those that contain better depth

Telephone consulting for ‘Personalised Care and Support Planning’ with people with long-term conditions : a qualitative study of healthcare professionals’ experiences during COVID-19 restrictions and beyond

For the purpose of open access, the author has applied a CC BY public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission. The authors are very grateful to the health professionals who generously made time to participate in interviews and share their experiences.Peer reviewe

Opening open government : women’s rights organisations and the open government partnership in the Philippines

The Feminist Open Government Initiative (FOGO) uses research and action to encourage governments and civil society to champion initiatives leading to gender advancements in and through open government. In this research intervention in the Philippines, the presence and engagement of women’s rights organisations and activists was increased in the Open Government Partnership process through financial and logistical support. The study measured quality of participation based on whether participants were active, informed, and have potential influence over outcomes. The brief provides an overview of the intervention, as well as some outcomes and recommendations

Planting Prosperity and Harvesting Health: Trade-offs and Sustainability in the Oregon-Washington Regional Food System

This assessment reveals food system sustainability trends in Oregon and Washington, focusing specifically on the producers in both states and the consumers in the Portland- Vancouver region. We began the assessment by asking a group of food system stakeholders from Oregon and Washington to define broadly supported goals for a sustainable food system. They also helped us identify the data necessary to understand trends in the food system. This information can be used in the future to establish benchmarks and to assess future progress toward food system sustainability goals. Framed by stakeholder concerns, this report will assist program and policy decision makers in prioritizing efforts to shape and strengthen the regional food system. This information is also a foundation for building new and unique partnerships among organizations in food system planning

Becoming a ‘Real’ Smoker: Cultural Capital in Young Women\u27s Accounts of Smoking and Other Substance Use

This paper draws from a qualitative study of tobacco use by young women in Toronto, Canada. Narrative interviews were used to understand the multiple roles and functions of smoking within the everyday lives of female adolescents. Guided by a Bourdieusian theoretical framework this study employed the core construct of cultural capital in order to position tobacco and other substance use as field‐specific capital that young women accumulate while navigating the social worlds of adolescence. Departing from the psychosocial or peer‐influence models that inform the majority of tobacco research with young people, this analysis provides a nuanced understanding of how smoking, drinking, using drugs are much more than simple forms of teenage experimentation or rebellion, but can also serve as key resources for defining the self, acquiring status and making social distinctions within adolescent social worlds. In this context it is also argued that initiation into substance use practices is a way that young women demonstrate and develop social and cultural competencies

From Didactic to Dialogue: Assessing the Use of an Innovative Classroom Resource to Support Decision-Making about Cannabis Use

Aims: In most countries, cannabis use rates are highest among young people. Efforts invested in cannabis prevention programmes have had limited success. In part, this may be attributed to a dearth of meaningful discussion in classroom settings on the topic and scarcity of credible resources. Although young people want opportunities to engage in dialogue focussed on cannabis, educators often feel unprepared to facilitate such discussions. Methods: In this knowledge translation study based on recent ethnographic findings, a film was created to explore decision-making and cannabis use among young people. Accompanying curricular materials were developed to support adult facilitators in leading group discussions. Findings: The film-based resource was used in 55 sites across Canada by 48 facilitators (school staff, public health professionals and youth workers); the film was viewed by more than 2500 students. Qualitative content analysis of facilitator evaluations along with telephone interviews revealed the impact of using the innovation. Facilitators adapted the resource in a variety of classes where in-depth discussions occurred, generating critical self-reflection. Conclusions: The diffusion of this drug education innovation underscores the importance of youth engagement in prevention programmes. Prevention approaches that accommodate inclusive and balanced discussion about cannabis use can support young people in their decision-making

Canadian newspaper coverage on harm reduction featuring bereaved mothers: A mixed methods analysis

A growing body of evidence suggests that news media which includes a sympathetic portrayal of a mother bereaved by substance use can increase public support for harm reduction initiatives. However, the extent to which such news media coverage occurs in Canada is unknown, and research has not documented how the news media in Canada covers such stories. We undertook a mixed-method secondary analyses of 5681 Canadian newspaper articles on harm reduction (2000–2016). Quantitative analyses described the volume and content of harm reduction reporting featuring a mother whose child’s death was related to substance use while qualitative thematic analysis provided in-depth descriptions of the discourses underlying such news reporting. Newspaper articles featuring a mother whose child’s death was related to substance use were rarely published (n = 63; 1.1% of total harm reduction media coverage during the study period). Deductive content analysis of these 63 texts revealed that coverage of naloxone distribution (42.9%) and supervised drug consumption services (28.6%) were prioritized over other harm reduction services. Although harm reduction (services or policies) were advocated by the mother in most (77.8%) of these 63 texts, inductive thematic analysis of a subset (n = 52) of those articles revealed that mothers’ advocacy was diminished by newspaper reporting that emphasized their experiences of grief, prioritized individual biographies over structural factors contributing to substance use harms, and created rhetorical divisions between different groups of people who use drugs (PWUD). Bereaved mothers’ advocacy in support of harm reduction programs and services may be minimized in the process of reporting their stories for newspaper readers. Finding ways to report bereaved mothers’ stories in ways that are inclusive of all PWUD while highlighting the role of broad, structural determinants of substance use has the potential to shift public opinion and government support in favour of these life-saving services

Food-based social enterprises and asylum seekers: the food justice truck

People seeking asylum in high-income countries are vulnerable to food insecurity due to limited opportunities for social and economic participation. While charity organizations have long sought to provide food aid to those in need, the increasing number of people seeking this assistance requires alternatives. Using a case study approach, this research investigates The Food Justice Truck, which is a social enterprise designed to provide low cost, nutritious food to people seeking asylum with an aim to reduce the food insecurity burden. Twenty-seven people seeking asylum completed a structured interview (n = 15) or a semi-structured interview (n = 12). The majority of participants were female (n = 20) with an average age of 38.3 years (Standard Deviation (SD) 7.3; range 30⁻59) and over half were from Iran (n = 16, 59.2%) with most holding a temporary visa to stay in Australia (n = 15, 55.5%). Two key findings were identified including the fact that the FJT is at risk of creating and perpetuating a power imbalance. However, as a social setting, the FJT has the potential to promote and enable a social connection and create a positive experience. This research study adds valuable information to the literature by providing research on one alternative to traditional food aid. It was found that alternatives to traditional food aid may play a role in reducing the food security burden

The TJUH Hospital Medicine COVID19 Emergency Taskforce: A guiding light during the surge of spring 2020

What’s the Problem? In mid March 2020 a highly infectious and deadly disease appeared in Philadelphia that no American physician had ever treated before. The challenge of disseminating reliable and relevant information about a novel and dangerous pathogen across practice areas cannot be understated. Usual practices for communication and leadership are not designed to manage this kind of challenge