Grades, Quizzes, Motivation, and Computers

The following paper describes the use of a simple FORTRAN computer program that may be used to determine course grades. The program is based on processing a set of IBM punched data cards. Each card contains the name of a student and all of his grades, including the final examination grade. The program may also be used to predict the final examination grade, based on previous quiz grades, and then, in turn, to predict the final course grade. It is thus possible to use this program periodically throughout the entire semester in order to provide the student, as well as the instructor, with a measure of his progress.     

Shrapnel, pressure, and noise

The noise hazard associated with an arc-flash event requires the use of personal hearing protection devices (PHPD) when workers are exposed to an arc-flash hazard. Arc-rated hoods can provide some protection for the noise hazard and can be used in conjunction with PHPDs to provide hearing protection. Although it is not possible to quantify the shrapnel hazard associated with an arc-flash event the ballistic protection offered by the arc-flash PPE to standardised threats can be determined.     

Gamblers, traders, and investors

Most people consider speculation in futures and commodities to be a form of gambling. Many people view the purchase of common stocks in much the same way. However, the explicit goal of many trading and investment strategies is to minimize risk, which sounds like the antithesis of gambling! Understanding the relationships between gambling, trading, and investing can help traders and investors avoid the pitfalls associated with mixing gambling with trading or trading with investing. This column examines these relationships. The central themes are, once again, risk and reward and the ways that individuals and crowds respond to fear and greed. Examining these issues in a broad context is very helpful as a way of identifying and correcting personal behaviors that are counterproductive.     

Knowledge, data, and models

The object-oriented approach to integrating knowledge data, and models is examined. Under the object-oriented paradigm, everything is an object, which is itself an encapsulation of data and methods to manipulate and access the data within the object. Thus knowledge, data, and models can be defined as special kinds of objects. Active knowledge/data language (KDL), a functional object-oriented database system is considered, covering the active-KDL-type system and functions, and query-driven simulation     

Science, engineering, and humanity

This paper discusses the important role scientists and engineers play in societal prosperity. Today, as the gaps between societies, cultures, religions, and races widen and deepen at a frightful rate - enhanced by shortsighted and fundamentalist politicians - it is their obligation to actively foster intercultural contacts. Occasions for intercultural encounters are abundant in academia. In the academic realm, unconditional honesty forms the very first basic law that should not be violated under any conditions without grave consequences. The world sometimes might appear to be in a hopeless disarray that increases day by day. Nevertheless, scientists and engineers are asked to follow the advice of the great science philosopher Karl Popper that optimism is their duty and they are responsible for what will come.     

Debt, demographics, and dishonesty

The costs of supporting an aging society, in an era that will experience increased longevity, escalating health care costs, and low birth rates, will become untenable. The adjustments that must ultimately be made will inflict significant economic pain across all sections of society. Many people who regard themselves as being middle class will live out their lives in near-poverty. There are major implications for investment strategies. Long-term returns for most asset classes will be far lower than recent bull markets have led people to expect. Consumers, companies, and local and national governments all acquire debt. The impact of this debt depends on many factors. These include: its real (inflation-adjusted) cost, the degree of leverage and the debt-servicing capability, the uses that are made of the debt, and the identity of the creditors. The aging of western societies is not happening in isolation from demographic trends that are occurring elsewhere in the world. They are reforming totalitarian or corrupt political, legal, and class systems that kept the majority of their populations in poverty. The net result is a dramatic increase in global production capacity.