Teaching and Professional Fellowship Report 2002/3: Colour and Computing

An exploration of new teaching and learning methodologies relating material colour use to digital colour and the computer's speed, control, 'sensitivity' and new possibilities to develop colour ideas of practical use in the studio

A story and a recommendation about the principle of maximum entropy production

The principle of maximum entropy production (MEP) is the subject of considerable academic study, but has yet to become remarkable for its practical applications. A tale is told of an instance in which a spin-off from consideration of an MEP-constrained climate model at least led to re-consideration of the very practical issue of water-vapour feedback in climate change. Further, and on a more-or-less unrelated matter, a recommendation is made for further research on whether there might exist a general "rule" whereby, for certain classes of complex non-linear systems, a state of maximum entropy production is equivalent to a state of minimum entropy

The Global Context: International Child Health

Approximately 5000 children under 5 years died on 11 September 2001 from diarrhoea, about double the number of persons who were killed when two airplanes crashed into the World Trade Towers in New York. For many years prior to that day, and every day since then, approximately 5000 children under 5 years have died from diarrhoea, by and large preventable by eliminating poverty. In 2003 global expenditure on anti-terrorism measures was quoted to be approximately $US551 billion. The UN Millennium Project has estimated that to cover basic needs in health, education, water, sanitation, food production, roads and other key areas, and achieve the Millennium Development Goals of the poorest countries would cost$US160 billion per year. This can be achieved by the wealthy countries of the world donating 0.7 % of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Only 5 of the 13 wealthiest OECD countries currently meet that target. The contribution from the USA (which currently contributes 0.15%) would be approximately $US60 billion – the same as the cost of the Iraq war per year for the first two years, similar to the Bush administration’s tax cuts to those earning more than$US500,000 per annum and approximately what Western Europe spends on alcohol every 6 months. Between 1990 and 2002 child health outcomes, particularly under 5 mortality rates world-wide have been improving except in the Commonwealth of Independent States (former Soviet Republics) and some Sub-Saharan African countries, where under 5 mortality has deteriorated, and rates in Sub-Saharan Africa remain high. However, as overall rates have been falling, inequalities and inequities in child health outcomes within and between nations have been increasing. From 1970-2000 under 5 mortality decreased by 71% in high income countries, but by only 40% in low income countries. The aim of this chapter is to describe broadly the determinants of child health, to question the current approach to improving child health outcomes, particularly in low and middle income countries, and discuss possibilities for improving child health in poor countries and reduce inequalities and inequities, considering strategies at a global, national and local level. ISBN: 978019576495

Some Like it Hot, Some Like it Cold, Most Like it Here: Forecasting Retirement in the Chicago Region

Over the next 20 years, an explosion of senior citizens who will opt to retire in the region rather than move away will change the face of the Chicago metropolitan region dramatically. This study, forecasting retirement trends in the 6-county Chicago metropolitan region through the year 2020, projects an overall 40 percent increase in the regions population of seniors who are age 60 or older. The increase outpaces the regions expected 16 percent growth in overall population over the next 20 years.The number of seniors not living in designated senior housing will increase by 18 percent in the City of Chicago, 22 percent in suburban Cook County, and by 58 percent in the collar counties. An additional 28,000 seniors are expected to be in the market for designated senior housing by 2020 and this demand is likely to outpace current supply.The study found the regions seniors who are retired or considering retirement are most concerned with (by ranking of importance):-- Availability of quality medical care-- Cost of living-- Availability of assistance and social services-- Public transportation-- Affordable housing-- Opportunities for culture and recreations-- Availability of high-quality housing with full services program

The Theology of Wolfhart Pannenberg

Reviewed Book: Braaten, Carl E. and Philip Clayton, editors. The Theology of Wolfhart Pannenberg: Twelve American Critiques, with an Autobiographical Essay and Response. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 198

Magnetizing Neighborhoods Through Amateur Arts Performance

Outlines the Arts and Cultural Indicators in Community Building Project's findings on how amateur, informal arts activity improves a community's desirability, social integration, and quality of life as measured by population, test scores, and crime rates

The Anonymous Christ: Jesus as Savior in Modern Theology

Reviewed Book: Snook, Lee E. The Anonymous Christ: Jesus as Savior in Modern Theology. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1986

Six lives: a memoir

Title: Six lives: a memoir. Author: Marmur, Dow Six lives 212 p. Publisher: Toronto : Key Porter Bks, 2004

Stimulus, effects attention and reading performance : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in applied psychology at Massey University

This investigation reports an experimental study on the effects different stimulus characteristics have on attention and subsequent reading performance with "good" and "poor" readers. Forty subjects between the ages of eleven and eleven and a half years at the time of the study (November, 1975) were selected from a typical city school on the following criteria: (i) All subjects had to score within ±1 standard deviation of the mean on the "Henmon-Nelson Tests of Mental Ability" Group 6-9, Form A. (H.N.) (ii) Twenty of them (ten boys, ten girls) had to score between 20-30 raw score points on the "Progressive Achievement Test: Reading Comprehension" and have a Teacher rating of 3+ or 2. (iii) Twenty of them (ten boys, ten girls) had to score 18 or less raw score points on the "Progressive Achievement Test: Reading Comprehension" and have a Teacher rating of 3- or 4. These two groups were then referred to respectively as "good" and "poor" readers. Intelligence was being held constant to prevent It being an Independent variable in this study. All forty subjects were tested on the "Concealed Figures Test" (C.F.T.) which was used in the study as a measure of "attentional style". Each subject was then presented with a series of slides and his responses recorded. In the first instance six slides, containing three real and three novel animals, were presented In a typical setting. Each slide had a coloured border surrounding it. After viewing each slide (their viewing time being recorded) they were asked to select from two multiple choice questions the setting in which the animal appeared and the colour of the border. This was repeated with the same animals In atypical settings and different coloured borders. Responses to the setting were recorded as "intentional" learning while the border colour was termed "Incidental learning". Each subject was then presented with a slide containing a "mutilated" text (where the first letter of each word had been changed) on each of the animals viewed previously. Each text was presented three times - with a picture, without a picture, without a picture but surrounded by a coloured border. The "on task" time and number of word errors was recorded for each presentation. The same procedure was repeated only with a different six animals as the subjects for the text (again comprising of three novel and three real animals). "On task" time and word errors were again recorded. Finally, five slides about one novel and four real animals were presented in traditional orthography as a control measure. These were presented as text only, text and picture, text and border, text and picture and border. On analysis of the data it was found that "incidental" learning was no greater with bright coloured borders than it was with dull coloured borders. "Intentional" learning too was tested out not significantly different with novel animals or settings than it was with real animals or typical settings. On the "attentional style" test boys were found to have significantly less errors than girls (p<.005). However, predicted differences in the number correct between boys and girls, "good" and "poor" readers showed no significance on a one tailed t-test. The "on task" time of high scorers on the C.F.T, as compared with low scorers did not differ significantly in the reading of the "mutilated" texts. "Good" readers though spent less time "on task" when the text was presented with a picture than did "poor" readers (p<.05). The same significant difference existed when they were presented with a text only. However, no difference was found when they were presented with a text surrounded with a coloured border. Reading performance of "poor" readers was increased when presented with a text only as compared with a text and illustration (p<.10). A one tailed t-test also showed a significant improvement in the performance of "poor" readers when the text had a coloured border around it (p<.05). The bright colours showed a very significant improvement in reading performance of "poor" readers as compared with the text only (p<.005). Stimulus materials such as texts with a coloured border seem to assist "poor" readers in particular into focusing their attention on to the relevant cues and increase their success in reading