A Call to Action: The New Academy of Food Law & Policy

The food system is affected by unique and complex laws. These laws call for a new generation of legal practitioners and scholars. This essay announces the creation of the Academy of Food Law and Policy. The Academy creates a network of law professors researching, teaching, and mentoring in food law and policy

Future Minds: Transhumanism, Cognitive Enhancement and the Nature of Persons

After covering the basic tenets of Transhumanism, I discuss what I take to be the most important philosophical element of the transhumanist picture -- its unique perspective on the nature and development of persons.... Examining the enhancement issue through the vantage point of the metaphysical problem of personal identity shall thereby present a serious challenge to Transhumanism. Indeed, this is a pressing issue for any argument made for or against enhancement

Analysis of Algorithms for Velocity Estimation from Discrete Position Versus Time Data

Algorithms for constructing velocity approximations from discrete position versus time data are investigated. The study is limited to algorithms suitable to provide velocity information in discrete-time feedback control systems such as microprocessor-based systems with a discrete position encoder. Velocity estimators based on lines per period, reciprocal-time, Taylor series expansion, backward difference expansions, and least-square curve fits are presented. Based on computer simulations, comparisons of relative accuracies of the different algorithms are made. The least-squares velocity estimators filtered the effect of imperfect measurements best, whereas the Taylor series expansions and backward difference equation estimators respond better to velocity transients

The 1974 Bilingual Education Amendments: Revolution, Reaction or Reform

Purpose: The study examined in detail the legislative history of the 1974 Bilingual Education Act, Section 105 of the Education Amendments of 1974, Public Law 93-380. The study examined the roles of Representatives, Senators, lobbyists, judicial decisions, minority groups and Administration officials in developing the 1974 Bilingual Education Act

"Paperless Grading" of Handwritten Homework: Electronic Process and Assessment

The typical engineering homework assignment may involve sketches, formulas with special symbols, as well as calculation steps. The most time efficient way for students to do this work is by hand, on paper. In terms of grading such assignments, it is faster and easier for instructors to handwrite comments than to add typewritten comments via text box, sticky note, etc. The computer and printing technologies available to instructors and students have progressed to the point where the use of electronic submission and grading for assigned work is viable, both in terms of ease of use and the benefits accrued – even for handwritten assignments. The goal for this project is to implement and assess a “paperless grading” process for handwritten homework assignments which allows for both electronic submission and return of the assignments. This process also allows the grader to “mark-up” the papers with handwritten comments. In spring 2013, the 33 students in the “Engineering Systems” class participated in a semester long trial of a paperless grading process for their homework assignments. An iPad was used as the homework grading platform coupled with the university’s course management system. At the end of the semester, the students completed a survey with questions which asked them to compare the paperless process with the process associated with the more traditional homework submission and grading process as well as their opinions on possible benefits or disadvantages of the paperless process. Also included were questions asking for their suggestions for improvements on the paperless process. Student feedback from this first trial was used to make some enhancements to the paperless process which was repeated in the spring 2014 offering of the class with 60 students who then completed the same survey used in 2013. This study shows that the penultimate “hold out” of going paperless – handwritten homework – can be accomplished with the hybrid process to be described in this paper. All participants in both semesters – students, graders, and instructor – concur that paperless grading is the way to go. In this paper, a more detailed description of the paperless grading process for handwritten homework will be presented. In addition, the quantitative results of the project evaluation for both semesters will be discussed as well as suggestions for future improvements in the process