Scoring Divergent Thinking Tests by Computer With a Semantics-Based Algorithm

Divergent thinking (DT) tests are useful for the assessment of creative potentials. This article reports the semantics-based algorithmic (SBA) method for assessing DT. This algorithm is fully automated: Examinees receive DT questions on a computer or mobile device and their ideas are immediately compared with norms and semantic networks. This investigation compared the scores generated by the SBA method with the traditional methods of scoring DT (i.e., fluency, originality, and flexibility). Data were collected from 250 examinees using the “Many Uses Test” of DT. The most important finding involved the flexibility scores from both scoring methods. This was critical because semantic networks are based on conceptual structures, and thus a high SBA score should be highly correlated with the traditional flexibility score from DT tests. Results confirmed this correlation (r = .74). This supports the use of algorithmic scoring of DT. The nearly-immediate computation time required by SBA method may make it the method of choice, especially when it comes to moderate- and large-scale DT assessment investigations. Correlations between SBA scores and GPA were insignificant, providing evidence of the discriminant and construct validity of SBA scores. Limitations of the present study and directions for future research are offered

Heat transfer enhancement of a periodic array of isothermal pipes

We address the problem of two-dimensional heat conduction in a solid slab whose upper and lower surfaces are subjected to uniform convection. In the midsection of the slab there is a periodic array of isothermal pipes of general cross section. The main objective of this work is to find the optimum shapes of the pipes that maximize the Shape Factor (heat transport rate). The Shape Factor is obtained by transforming the periodic array of pipes into a periodic array of strips, using the generalized Schwarz- Christoffel transformation, and applying the collocation boundary element method on the transformed domain. Subsequently we pose the inverse problem, i.e. finding the shape that maximizes the Shape factor given the perimeter of the pipes. For large Biot number the optimum shapes are in agreement with the isothermal case, i.e. circular for sufficiently small perimeters/heat transfer, and elongated towards the surfaces of the slab for larger perimeters/heat transfer. Furthermore, for the isothermal case, we were able to discover a new family of optimum shapes for large thickness of the slab and large perimeters, which do not have their maximum width on the horizontal axis of symmetry. For small Biot number the optimum pipes are flatter than the isothermal ones for a given perimeter. The flatness becomes more apparent for larger perimeters. Most important, for large perimeters there exists a critical thickness which is characterized by maximum heat transfer rate. This is further investigated using the finite element method to obtain the critical thickness of a slab and the critical depth of the periodic array of circular pipe

Optimum shapes of a periodic array of isothermal pipes embedded in a slab subjected to uniform convection

The project's main objective is to obtain optimum shapes of a periodic array of isothermal pipes that maximize heat transfer. The pipes are embedded in a two-dimensional slab whose surfaces are subjected to uniform convection

Visualization of topology of transformation pathways in complex chemical systems

Studying transformation in a chemical system by considering its energy as a function of coordinates of the system's components provides insight and changes our understanding of this process. Currently, a lack of effective visualization techniques for high-dimensional energy functions limits chemists to plot energy with respect to one or two coordinates at a time. In some complex systems, developing a comprehensive understanding requires new visualization techniques that show relationships between all coordinates at the same time. We propose a new visualization technique that combines concepts from topological analysis, multi-dimensional scaling, and graph layout to enable the analysis of energy functions for a wide range of molecular structures. We demonstrate our technique by studying the energy function of a dimer of formic and acetic acids and a LTA zeolite structure, in which we consider diffusion of methane