Exploring Automated Essay Scoring for Nonnative English Speakers

Automated Essay Scoring (AES) has been quite popular and is being widely used. However, lack of appropriate methodology for rating nonnative English speakers' essays has meant a lopsided advancement in this field. In this paper, we report initial results of our experiments with nonnative AES that learns from manual evaluation of nonnative essays. For this purpose, we conducted an exercise in which essays written by nonnative English speakers in test environment were rated both manually and by the automated system designed for the experiment. In the process, we experimented with a few features to learn about nuances linked to nonnative evaluation. The proposed methodology of automated essay evaluation has yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.750 with the manual evaluation.Comment: Accepted for publication at EUROPHRAS 201

Geometric integration on spheres and some interesting applications

Geometric integration theory can be employed when numerically solving ODEs or PDEs with constraints. In this paper, we present several one-step algorithms of various orders for ODEs on a collection of spheres. To demonstrate the versatility of these algorithms, we present representative calculations for reduced free rigid body motion (a conservative ODE) and a discretization of micromagnetics (a dissipative PDE). We emphasize the role of isotropy in geometric integration and link numerical integration schemes to modern differential geometry through the use of partial connection forms; this theoretical framework generalizes moving frames and connections on principal bundles to manifolds with nonfree actions.Comment: This paper appeared in prin

Procjena opasnosti pri radu specijalista za zaštitu zdravlja divljih životinja u Indiji.

A study to assess the levels of various threats and awareness among wildlife health professionals was carried out using a self administered questionnaire that focused on personal health details, the extent of exposure to various hazards, safety measures practiced and awareness level. Fifty four (46.9%) veterinarians responded to the questionnaire. The study suggests that animal related injuries (bites, wounds, scratches, fractures) were the major hazard (41%). Other health related problems and illness among professionals were backache (29.6%), hypertension (21.2%), lumbar spondylitis and anxiety (15.6% each), allergies/wheezing (11%), diabetes (10.5%), cervical spondylitis (9.4%), enteric disorders (8.9%), hypotension (5.9%), hypercholesterolemia (4.5%) and dermatitis (2.3%). Though 69% of the respondents handled hazardous chemicals during wildlife practice, none reported any mishap. Response to the presence of zoonotic diseases revealed a low level (3.7%) among the wildlife health professionals. The study revealed that despite near optimal awareness of various hazards, preventive measures are minimally practiced. It may be concluded that wildlife health professionals are exposed to a variety of hazardous situations during wildlife practice and need to remain diligent to ensure their own continued good health and that of the staff working under their supervision.Provedeno je istraživanje s ciljem procjene stupnja različitih opasnosti i osviještenosti o tim opasnostima u specijalista za zaštitu zdravlja divljih životinja. Pripremljen je upitnik s pitanjima usmjerenima na podatke o osobnom zdravlju, opsegu izloženosti različitim opasnostima, primijenjenim mjerama zaštite i stupnju osviještenosti o opasnostima. Na upitnik su odgovorila 54 (46,9%) veterinara. Istraživanje je pokazalo da je glavna opasnost (41%) ozljeda do koje dolazi u radu sa životinjama (ugrizi, rane, ogrebotine, lomovi). Drugi poremećaji zdravlja odnosili su se na bol u leđima (29,6%), povišeni krvni tlak (21,2%), lumbalni spondilitis i anksioznost (svaki po 15,6%), alergije i otežano disanje (11%), šećernu bolest (10,5%), cervikalni spondilitis (9,4%), probavne poremećaje (8,9%), sniženi krvni tlak (5,9%), povišeni kolesterol (4,5%) i upala kože (2,3%). Iako se 69% ispitanika služilo opasnim kemikalijama tijekom rada s divljim životinjama, nije bilo odgovora o nesretnim slučajevima vezanima uz to. Odgovori o potvrđenim zoonozama bili su rijetki (3,7%). Istraživanje je pokazalo da se usprkos gotovo optimalnoj osviještenosti o različitim opasnostima, preventivne mjere malo primijenjuju. Može se zaključiti da su stručnjaci koji nadziru zdravlje divljih životinja izloženi različitim opasnostima tijekom obavljanja prakse i zbog toga trebaju ustrajati u održavanju svojeg zdravlja te dobrog zdravlja osoblja koje radi pod njihovim nadzorom

Systematic Center-to-Limb Variation in Measured Helioseismic Travel Times and Its Effect on Inferences of Solar Interior Meridional Flows

We report on a systematic center-to-limb variation in measured helioseismic travel times, which must be taken into account for an accurate determination of solar interior meridional flows. The systematic variation, found in time-distance helioseismology analysis using SDO/HMI and SDO/AIA observations, is different in both travel-time magnitude and variation trend for different observables. It is not clear what causes this systematic effect. Subtracting the longitude-dependent east-west travel times, obtained along the equatorial area, from the latitude-dependent north-south travel times, obtained along the central meridian area, gives remarkably similar results for different observables. We suggest this as an effective procedure for removing the systematic center-to-limb variation. The subsurface meridional flows obtained from inversion of the corrected travel times are approximately 10 m/s slower than those obtained without removing the systematic effect. The detected center-to-limb variation may have important implications in the derivation of meridional flows in the deep interior, and needs a better understanding.Comment: accepted for publication by ApJ Letter

Numerical integration for high order pyramidal finite elements

We examine the effect of numerical integration on the convergence of high order pyramidal finite element methods. Rational functions are indispensable to the construction of pyramidal interpolants so the conventional treatment of numerical integration, which requires that the finite element approximation space is piecewise polynomial, cannot be applied. We develop an analysis that allows the finite element approximation space to include rational functions and show that despite this complication, conventional rules of thumb can still be used to select appropriate quadrature methods on pyramids. Along the way, we present a new family of high order pyramidal finite elements for each of the spaces of the de Rham complex.Comment: 28 page

Constraints on "rare" dyon decays

We obtain the complete set of constraints on the moduli of N=4 superstring compactifications that permit "rare" marginal decays of 1/4-BPS dyons to take place. The constraints are analysed in some special cases. The analysis extends in a straightforward way to multi-particle decays. We discuss the possible relation between general multi-particle decays and multi-centred black holes.Comment: 27 page

High-order finite elements on pyramids: approximation spaces, unisolvency and exactness

We present a family of high-order finite element approximation spaces on a pyramid, and associated unisolvent degrees of freedom. These spaces consist of rational basis functions. We establish conforming, exactness and polynomial approximation properties.Comment: 37 pages, 3 figures. This work was originally in one paper, then split into two; it has now been recombined into one paper, with substantial changes from both of its previous form

Project OASIS: Optimizing Aquaponic Systems to Improve Sustainability

Started in Fall 2015, Project OASIS (Optimizing Aquaponic Systems to Improve Sustainability) is an interdisciplinary capstone project with the goal of designing a sustainable and affordable small-scale aquaponic system for use in developing nations to tackle the problems of malnutrition and food insecurity. Aquaponics is a symbiotic relationship between fish and vegetables growing together in a recirculating system. The project’s goals were to minimize energy consumption and construction costs while using universally available materials. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software OpenFOAM was used to create transient and steady-state models of fish tanks to visualize velocity profiles, streamlines, and particle movement. CFD and small scale experiments showed vertical manifolds were more efficient than horizontal inlets. The components’ layout was analyzed to minimize head losses and airlifts were used instead of traditional water pumps. Full-scale research and traditional systems were constructed for side-by-side comparison of biological and energy factors. Flow improvements and use of air-lift pumps dropped energy consumption 40% when compared to a traditional system of the same size. Using local and recycled materials where possible decreased the cost of the UNH pilot system by 27%. The team also partnered with Forjando Alas, a non-profit in Uvita, Costa Rica. During a January 2016 assessment trip, four members spent a week gathering data and building relationships with the community to develop a user-centered design. Project OASIS also successfully competed in two entrepreneurship competitions this year