Identification Thresholds of the Human Visual System for an Alphanumeric Resolution Test Object

Many investigations of the detection threshold of the human visual system have been conducted, and a few recognition threshold studies can be found, however no identification threshold data are available. This paper documents research on the observer\u27s identification threshold for an alphanumeric resolution test object presented at various average luminance levels, contrasts, and contrast polarities. These factors affected the identification threshold in a similar way to the effects they exert on the observer\u27s detection and recognition thresholds; the test object contrast being the most significant factor. Direct numerical comparisons between the various thresholds were not possible due to the large inherent differences between the test object visual task complexities found in the many threshold investigations

Urban Agriculture Research and Scholarship Trends

This project explores the peer-reviewed literature on urban agriculture (UA) research and associated scholarly publishing trends. UA research spans disciplines such as: agriculture, urban planning, government, health sciences, environmental sciences, water resources, economics, and conservation. In this study, seven databases were searched for peer-reviewed literature on UA. This poster explores UA research output by measuring the growth rate of peer reviewed research on UA (~18% from 1980-2015) and comparing to the growth of modern science (8-9%). Forty-one journal titles published greater than 5 articles on UA, showing how diverse the topic is. From this an analysis of related subjects was also done; the top 3 resulting subjects within UA research were: Agriculture, Environmental Studies, and Housing and Urban Planning. This research also includes a geographic analysis of field sites for UA publications. Of the top 20 countries where research was done on UA, studies conducted within the United States published 86 articles, and on the lower end of the top 20 countries was Japan, wherein 7 studies on UA had been published. In addition, a keyword analysis suggests that the type of UA research (community oriented versus environmental or agriculturally oriented) may be correlated with the GDP-PPP of the country in question. This poster will be valuable to librarians in collection development (public as well as academic), as well as liaison or subject librarians that work with researchers

Interview with Bill Caruso

Bill Caruso is personnel director of Sesame Street Place and is an individual who has a special perspective on the development of the field, especially its career opportunities. His basic philosophy is that there are many opportunities and that future professionals have to be more sensitive to the area of change if they are going to stay viable in the profession

Finding Meaning and Sensemaking in Hospital Nursing Teams: The Promise of Narrative Medicine

Purpose. Narrative medicine is an innovative field that has provided meaning and increased communication between health care providers and their patients. This study explored the significance and nature of the practice of Narrative Medicine and what impact this had with NICU nurses on their team interaction with respect to team functioning, sense-making, and vocational understanding. This study seeks to provide nursing teams another tool to find meaning in their work and strengthen their teamwork. Using Narrative Medicine and the theory of phenomenology, this is a new approach that may bring nurses to draw on fresh ways to engage their work and each other. This has the possibility to demonstrate how the work of Narrative Medicine creates clarity and lucidity for nurses. This study asks the question of how meaning is constructed discursively in the practice of nursing. Method. In this study, 11 NICU nurses participated in the practices of narrative medicine. This included 3 group sessions, one individual interview, and observation of each participant for 3-5 hours. Participants examined and discussed the ways they viewed their work in terms of functioning, sense-making, and vocation. Field notes were read by myself and coded for emergent themes in the phenomenological theory tradition. Results. Patterns of communication and teamwork were complex and nuanced. Participants reported building stronger relationships as they grew more aware of each other’s stories and had the opportunity to reflect on their work among their coworkers. This led to an intensified individual and team understanding of their roles as healthcare professionals. Participants responded in the group, individual, and observation time about how this process positively contributed to their individual and shared identity, value, and meaning as a nurse. Conclusions. Conversations in the Narrative Medicine exercises, individual and observational time demonstrated how the influence of these practices assisted to remove barriers so that relationships were enhanced. This positively contributed to team practices of asking for and offering help to other teammates, increased trust, team task functioning, sense-making, and increasing a sense of their “call” or vocation in the practice of nursing