Automated Engineering Design (AED); An approach to automated documentation

The automated engineering design (AED) is reviewed, consisting of a high level systems programming language, a series of modular precoded subroutines, and a set of powerful software machine tools that effectively automate the production and design of new languages. AED is used primarily for development of problem and user-oriented languages. Software production phases are diagramed, and factors which inhibit effective documentation are evaluated

Death and prudential deprivation

Dying is (sometimes) bad for the dier because it prevents her from being the subject of wellbeing she otherwise would (the deprivation account). I argue for this from a (plausible) principle about which futures are bad for a prudential subject (the future-comparison principle). A strengthening of this principle yields that death is not always bad, and that the badness of death does not consist in that it destroys the dier

Medium and large-scale variations of dynamo-induced electric fields from AE ion drift measurements

Current models of the low latitude electric field are largely based on data from incoherent scatter radars. These observations are extended through the addition of the rather extensive high quality electric field measurements from the Ion Drift Meter (IDM) aboard the Atmosphere Explorer (AE) spacecraft. Some preliminary results obtained from the Unified Abstract files of satellite AE-E are presented. This satellite was active from the end of 1975 through June 1981 in various elliptical and circular orbits having an inclination near 20 deg. The resulting data can be examined for the variation of ion drift with latitude, longitude, season, solar cycle, altitude, and magnetic activity. The results presented deal primarily with latitudinal variations of the drift features. Diagrams of data are given and briefly interpreted. The preliminary results presented here indicate that IDM data from the AE and the more recent Dynamics Explorer B spacecraft should continue to disclose some interesting and previously unobserved dynamical features of the low latitude F region

MOOCs: Hope and Hype in Viral Technologies and Policies

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have emerged in the last couple of years as Internet-based vehicles providinglow cost global access to quality education. They come in two basic forms: expert and self-organizing. Thedominant expert model provides access to expertise through centralized software platforms with expert-designedshort lecture videos, free online reading materials, discussion forums and a strong emphasis on measurable assessments.Self-organizing models focus on problems that may be too new for well-developed expertise, but are tooimportant to ignore. Their rapid (viral) growth has resulted in related “viral policies” created by administrators andothers who feel under competitive pressure to act quickly. MOOC interest is growing in many countries, openingnew opportunities for international education partnerships. Backlashes have taken the form of: (a) unresolvedproblems with course perseverance, (b) assessment procedures to reduce cheating and improve peer review, and (c)faculty resistance to viral governance. While low course completion rates remains problematic, rapidly developingtechnologies and competitive networks are likely to influence higher education institutional policy for some timeto come.</jats:p

We Can Do Better: An Essay on Education Finance and Generational Continuity in a Globalizing Economy

For the last two decades, education finance research has been framed almost solely within a traditional policy framework of neoclassical economics

Plea Bargaining: The Judicial Merry-Go-Round

The last decade has brought to our courts the increasing awareness that the criminal is winning the war against crime. He is not winning through cunning or guile, nor even with the aid of modern technology. He is winning because the sheer number of his comrades-in-arms is beginning to buckle our cumbersome system of justice. Realizing the need to relieve its congested dockets, the courts have resorted to various methods to expedite the legal process. One of these methods, plea bargaining, is not designed to accelerate the trial level but instead eliminate it. It has done just that with remarkable efficiency. Unfortunately the price for a more efficient system of justice is high, and too often paid by the very individuals who need its protection most. The purpose of this article is to examine plea bargaining in our courts and assess its impact upon the judicial system. The analysis will include the role of the trial judge in the bargaining process, problems involved in withdrawing a guilty plea, and reasons why the process is used so extensively today. The dangers of plea bargaining will also be examined in conjunction with recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court decisions

An Ecological Study of the Distribution of Animals on Mt. LeConte and Along LeConte Creek

In this discussion we have tried to show the ecological distribution of the animals of Mount LeConte and along LeConte Creek, by first giving a brief description of the Great Smoky Mountains in general, its vegetation, and a number of animals that are known to be present in their various habitats. A more detailed description of LeConte Creek has been attempted, and the area has been zoned according to the kind of vegetation that appears to be dominant. A detailed discussion of the methods and technique are given to enable the reader to surmise the immensity of the problem attacked. The animals peculiar to the various zones have been discussed briefly. The animal dominant in the Balsam Zone seems to be the Red-gilled salamander, Plethodon jordani; that of the Birch Zone, a snail, the species not determined; that of the Transitional Zone, a large semi-aquatic drab-colored salamander, Desmognathus sp.; and that of the Chestnut Zone, snails, most of which are of the genus Helix. As a whole, the animals of LeConte are scarce compared to those of the lower altitudes, but in general a great number exist in their various habitats

The Role of the Elementary Principal in Building Relational Trust with Low-Income Families

Students in schools across the country are failing to meet academic standards. School leaders are responsible for solving the problem and must search for ways to help all students learn and improve academic achievement. Although copious studies have been devoted to exploring the benefits of and barriers to family involvement and engagement in schools, very few have deconstructed the direct role of principals in family involvement in school. The purpose of this study was to explore how elementary principals in low income, elementary schools in the southeastern U.S. use elements of relational trust in family involvement efforts. Grounded in cultural study and critical theory research traditions, and informed by symbolic interactionism, the study was guided by an overarching question and was supported by three sub-questions. After a thorough review of relevant literature including the topics of family involvement, trust, and leadership practices, a phenomenological study was conducted to answer the research questions focused on the perceptions of current principals of low income, Red Carpet award winning elementary schools in South Carolina regarding their role in building trust with families. The study consisted of conducting face-to-face interviews of ten (10) purposefully sampled participants using a structured interview protocol consisting of fifteen (15) questions and review of artifacts. Thorough and extensive analysis of the data revealed themes and sub themes. Principal perceptions provided thick, rich descriptions allowing the researcher to support the goals of the study. Principals defined family-school trust as providing a safe comfortable place that is inclusive of all stakeholders and inspires a sense of confidence in the principal and school. Principals held the following beliefs: trust plays an important role in family school trust; certain strategies are the most productive for working with low income families to build trust and improve involvement; competently acting in the best interest of families and having high academic expectations demonstrates leadership best practices; and finally, principals believe they have a moral imperative to ensure that children in their care are receiving the quality education they deserve. Recommendations include suggestions for future research in the area of the principals\u27 role in trust building for family involvement