title: From the Galalpagos to Tongariro: Recognizing and saving the most important places in the world

authors: Gillespie, Alexander

subjects: law

abstract: Protected areas are one of the less glamorous areas of international environmental law. They are commonly overshadowed by what are perceived as much more dramatic topics, which capture the public attention to a much greater degree.1 This is a highly ironic situation for three reasons. First, because protected areas are the foremost methods by which species and ecosystems are effectively preserved. Second, because protected areas are tangible, and are not merely theoretical constructs. Third, the obligation to create protected areas is one of the most long-standing goals in numerous environmental treaties. For a long time this goal was not tied to any specific outcomes, and the numbers of protected areas grew slowly. However, in the new century, due to an increased recognition of the above considerations, the international community has not only reiterated the goal to create more protected areas, they also set targets of what they want to achieve. The international interest is this area can be seen with a number of examples, such as marine protected areas and transboundary protected areas. Collectively, such support has lead to the creation, in total, of over 102,000 protected areas spread over the Earth.

text: From the Galalpagos to Tongariro: Recognizing and saving the most important places in the world Protected areas are one of the less glamorous areas of international environmental law. They are commonly overshadowed by what are perceived as much more dramatic topics, which capture the public attention to a much greater degree.1 This is a highly ironic situation for three reasons. First, because protected areas are the foremost methods by which species and ecosystems are effectively preserved. Second, because protected areas are tangible, and are not merely theoretical constructs. Third, the obligation to create protected areas is one of the most long-standing goals in numerous environmental treaties. For a long time this goal was not tied to any specific outcomes, and the numbers of protected areas grew slowly. However, in the new century, due to an increased recognition of the above considerations, the international community has not only reiterated the goal to create more protected areas, they also set targets of what they want to achieve. The international interest is this area can be seen with a number of examples, such as marine protected areas and transboundary protected areas. Collectively, such support has lead to the creation, in total, of over 102,000 protected areas spread over the Earth.

year: 2009

title: Human visual-vestibular interaction during curvilinear motion in VR

authors: Garnett, Aden C.

abstract: When people move through the world they use retinal image motion to form an estimate of self-motion, although how this is achieved is not yet fully understood. Furthermore, the process is not fool-proof and many conditions create incorrect percepts of self-motion. In particular, experiencing rotation makes it difficult for humans to correctly perceive heading during movement from visual input alone. 

Here we re-examined human perception of rotation during true and simulated curvilinear motion. Broadly, this was done by simulating movement along various paths using currently available head-mounted stereoscopic virtual reality displays. These displays overcome many of the shortcomings of historical equipment but also represent a significant departure from established setups. As such, the first two experiments, presented together in Chapter 2, replicated experiments from Banks, Ehrlich, Backus, and Crowell (1996) and Crowell, Banks, Shenoy, and Andersen (1998). This was to aid in determining the suitability of consumer-grade virtual reality headsets for self-motion perception research and to provide a point of comparison between this thesis and historical works. 

Following confirmation that the VR devices were suitable for research we developed a virtual line-based bendable response tool. This tool made use of tracked hand controllers to facilitate fast and intuitive reporting of self-motion perception without confounding heading and rotation perception errors. Using this tool we confirmed reports of curvilinear motion perception during linear travel with rotation. We then measured perception of heading and curvature during travel on linear paths of increasingly eccentric heading, finding that eccentric headings elicited perceptions of curvature. We also measured perceptions of travel along curvilinear paths so that a model of human visual-vestibular interaction \cite{perrone2018visual} as it applies to heading perception could be tested against participant performance. Finally, predictions from this model prompted us to measure curvilinear path perception while using a rotating chair that allowed us to provide a rough congruent vestibular signal.

Overall, we found consistent large individual differences in perception across all motion types, although each individual's perceptions were internally consistent. Furthermore, we found that participants perceived curvature while travelling on not only curvilinear paths, but also on linear paths with rotation and linear paths with eccentric headings. The tested model, as implemented, matched participant results well, proving able to explain the majority of the individual differences. Finally, we found that providing a rough congruent vestibular signal resulted in participants perceiving less curved paths compared to when the vestibular signal indicated no rotation.

text: Human visual-vestibular interaction during curvilinear motion in VR When people move through the world they use retinal image motion to form an estimate of self-motion, although how this is achieved is not yet fully understood. Furthermore, the process is not fool-proof and many conditions create incorrect percepts of self-motion. In particular, experiencing rotation makes it difficult for humans to correctly perceive heading during movement from visual input alone. 

Here we re-examined human perception of rotation during true and simulated curvilinear motion. Broadly, this was done by simulating movement along various paths using currently available head-mounted stereoscopic virtual reality displays. These displays overcome many of the shortcomings of historical equipment but also represent a significant departure from established setups. As such, the first two experiments, presented together in Chapter 2, replicated experiments from Banks, Ehrlich, Backus, and Crowell (1996) and Crowell, Banks, Shenoy, and Andersen (1998). This was to aid in determining the suitability of consumer-grade virtual reality headsets for self-motion perception research and to provide a point of comparison between this thesis and historical works. 

Following confirmation that the VR devices were suitable for research we developed a virtual line-based bendable response tool. This tool made use of tracked hand controllers to facilitate fast and intuitive reporting of self-motion perception without confounding heading and rotation perception errors. Using this tool we confirmed reports of curvilinear motion perception during linear travel with rotation. We then measured perception of heading and curvature during travel on linear paths of increasingly eccentric heading, finding that eccentric headings elicited perceptions of curvature. We also measured perceptions of travel along curvilinear paths so that a model of human visual-vestibular interaction \cite{perrone2018visual} as it applies to heading perception could be tested against participant performance. Finally, predictions from this model prompted us to measure curvilinear path perception while using a rotating chair that allowed us to provide a rough congruent vestibular signal.

Overall, we found consistent large individual differences in perception across all motion types, although each individual's perceptions were internally consistent. Furthermore, we found that participants perceived curvature while travelling on not only curvilinear paths, but also on linear paths with rotation and linear paths with eccentric headings. The tested model, as implemented, matched participant results well, proving able to explain the majority of the individual differences. Finally, we found that providing a rough congruent vestibular signal resulted in participants perceiving less curved paths compared to when the vestibular signal indicated no rotation.

year: 2020

title: Young Māori mothers and bed-sharing with their pēpi/baby: A case study focusing on the relevance and influence of three varying health promotion resources

authors: Haereroa, Nikki M.

subjects: Māori

abstract: Māori Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI) rates are significantly higher than non-Māori. Bed-sharing is considered to be one of the major modifiable risk factors associated with SUDI rates (Mitchell et al., 1992), although there is strong opposition that suggests bed-sharing can act as a preventative measure against SUDI (McKenna & McDade, 2005). As a result of quantitative research and statistical data, many health promotion messages now focus on discouraging the practice of bed-sharing, whether it be through policy implementation throughout hospitals or through to health promotion guidelines. Although there is a high incidence of Māori SUDI rates, there has been little emphasis on Māori perspectives and insights into the practice. Of the few qualitative studies that focus on infant sleep practices, a significant finding is the high prevalence of Māori who bed-share regularly (Tipene-Leach et al., 2010). This paper will investigate the motivations and rationale of bed-sharing amongst young urban Māori mothers to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation into the lived realities of this group. The lack of consultation with a group that has been classed by New Zealand Government bodies, the Health Quality and Safety Commission and Child and Youth Mortality Review Committee Group, as ‘most at risk’ of experiencing a SUDI, maybe a contributing factor to the high Māori SUDI rates. This has brought about the question of whether current health resources are relevant and/or influence young Māori mothers. Using a Te Whare Tapa Wha framework within a Kaupapa Māori Research methodology, this paper provides a unique and much-needed perspective into the lives of young Māori mothers. The purpose of this research overall is: if health resources and messages are not relevant to a community and they have little or no influence over infant care practices, then do health professionals and researchers need to rethink current strategies and working models to ensure we focus on the real, lived needs of our community?

text: Young Māori mothers and bed-sharing with their pēpi/baby: A case study focusing on the relevance and influence of three varying health promotion resources Māori Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI) rates are significantly higher than non-Māori. Bed-sharing is considered to be one of the major modifiable risk factors associated with SUDI rates (Mitchell et al., 1992), although there is strong opposition that suggests bed-sharing can act as a preventative measure against SUDI (McKenna & McDade, 2005). As a result of quantitative research and statistical data, many health promotion messages now focus on discouraging the practice of bed-sharing, whether it be through policy implementation throughout hospitals or through to health promotion guidelines. Although there is a high incidence of Māori SUDI rates, there has been little emphasis on Māori perspectives and insights into the practice. Of the few qualitative studies that focus on infant sleep practices, a significant finding is the high prevalence of Māori who bed-share regularly (Tipene-Leach et al., 2010). This paper will investigate the motivations and rationale of bed-sharing amongst young urban Māori mothers to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation into the lived realities of this group. The lack of consultation with a group that has been classed by New Zealand Government bodies, the Health Quality and Safety Commission and Child and Youth Mortality Review Committee Group, as ‘most at risk’ of experiencing a SUDI, maybe a contributing factor to the high Māori SUDI rates. This has brought about the question of whether current health resources are relevant and/or influence young Māori mothers. Using a Te Whare Tapa Wha framework within a Kaupapa Māori Research methodology, this paper provides a unique and much-needed perspective into the lives of young Māori mothers. The purpose of this research overall is: if health resources and messages are not relevant to a community and they have little or no influence over infant care practices, then do health professionals and researchers need to rethink current strategies and working models to ensure we focus on the real, lived needs of our community?

year: 2015