Automated Essay Scoring Using Transformer Models

Automated essay scoring (AES) is gaining increasing attention in the education sector as it significantly reduces the burden of manual scoring and allows ad hoc feedback for learners. Natural language processing based on machine learning has been shown to be particularly suitable for text classification and AES. While many machine-learning approaches for AES still rely on a bag of words (BOW) approach, we consider a transformer-based approach in this paper, compare its performance to a logistic regression model based on the BOW approach, and discuss their differences. The analysis is based on 2088 email responses to a problem-solving task that were manually labeled in terms of politeness. Both transformer models considered in the analysis outperformed without any hyperparameter tuning of the regression-based model. We argue that, for AES tasks such as politeness classification, the transformer-based approach has significant advantages, while a BOW approach suffers from not taking word order into account and reducing the words to their stem. Further, we show how such models can help increase the accuracy of human raters, and we provide a detailed instruction on how to implement transformer-based models for one’s own purposes.

Teacher Written vs. Audio Feedback on Undergraduates’ Written Assignments

Due to the importance of instructor’s feedback on students’ written assignment as part of formative assessment and the relatively new way of delivering audio feedback, this case study aimed to explore instructor’s audio vs. written feedback provided on 15 pairs of undergraduates’ written tasks through Google Docs over an academic semester in a Saudi public university. The data was collected from actual feedback comments in both modes and follow-up interviews with the students. The content analysis of feedback revealed that audio feedback differed from written feedback in terms of quantity and content. Despite the potential of audio feedback revealed through the content analysis, the majority of students (16) preferred written feedback over audio feedback for its clarity, easiness, easy access to feedback and its focus on a certain issue in the assignments, whereas 14 of them preferred audio feedback. Several challenges highlighted by the students, including its length and detailed instruction and the difficulty in accessing it served as good points for several pedagogical implications for instructors in this study.

A prospective comparative study to assess the risk of postoperative bleeding after dental surgery while on medication with direct oral anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents, or vitamin K antagonists

Background The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the occurrence and severity of postoperative bleeding following dentoalveolar surgery in patients with uninterrupted anticoagulation therapy (AT). Methods Patients receiving AT (vitamin k antagonist (VK), direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) or antiplatelet therapy (APT) and in need of surgical intervention classified as A, B or C (single or serial tooth extraction, osteotomy, or implant placement) were studied between 2019 and 2021. A healthy, non-anticoagulated cohort (CG) served as a control group. The main outcomes measured were the frequency of postoperative bleeding, the classification of the severity of postoperative bleeding (1a, 1b, 1c, 2, 3), and the correlation with the AT surgical intervention classification. Results In total, 195 patients were included in the study, with 95 patients in the AT group and 100 in the CG. Postoperative bleeding was significant in the AT group vs. the CG (p = 0.000), with a significant correlation with surgical intervention class C (p = 0.013) and the severity class of bleeding 1a (p = 0.044). There was no significant correlation with procedures of type A, B or C for the other postoperative bleeding gradations (1b, 1c, 2 and 3). There was a statistically significant difference in the occurrence of postoperative bleeding events between the DOAC/APT group and the VK group (p = 0.036), but there were no significant differences regarding the other AT agents. Conclusion The continuation of anticoagulation therapy for surgical interventions also seems reasonable for high-risk interventions. Although significantly more postoperative bleeding occurs, the severity of bleeding is low. The perioperative management of anticoagulated patients requires well-coordinated interdisciplinary teamwork and detailed instruction of patients. Clinical trial registration The study is registered (29.03.2021) at the German clinical trial registry (DRKS00024889).

Automated Noise Calibration System (VT-1000)

This paper details an automated Noise Source calibration system in development at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology (JPL). The paper begins with a discussion on noise figure and excess-noise-ratio (ENR) theory, fundamentals and governing equations. As part of the fundamentals there is a discussion of the system’s use of the Y-factor method to obtain accurate measurements of the unit under test (UUT), and how these measurements are compared against a known ENR standard to obtain the UUT’s ENR values. There is also an in-depth discussion on uncertainty quantification for noise source system calibrations. The architecture of the automated calibration system is provided, which includes both the system’s hardware and software configuration. The software is written in Python 3, and provides the user detailed instruction on how to proceed, including step-by-step connection requirements. This system automates much of the measurement process, including real-time uncertainty quantification and report generation, as well as real-time feedback to the user to allow intervention. The system takes advantage of a database of results from previous measurements to compare calibration history of the ENR measurements. The automated system presented here operates over a frequency range from 10 MHz to 50 GHz, and has shown substantial time savings over traditional manual methods of performing this calibration

Online Practical Assessment (Opra) in Biochemistry Designed on Bloom’s Taxonomy to Assess the Student’s Competency: Prior Exposure of the Students to Online Tools Beneficial

Background: Online assessments are the need of the hour during the prevailing pandemic situation to continue the educational activities and at the same time ensuring the safety of the students and faculty. All Higher Educational Institutions must take the necessary steps to design an effective assessment model to assess the various levels of student competency. Here, we analyzed the responses of the students after the conduct of the online practical assessment (OPrA) in Biochemistry.Methods: The blueprint of the OPrA was prepared by the faculty referring to the various levels and domains of Bloom’s taxonomy. Four components were chosen for the online assessment: digital spotters, enumerating the steps of objective structured practical examination, interpretation of quantitative estimation, and case discussion. Detailed instruction was provided to the students and the breakout room option in the Zoom platform was chosen for assessment. About 12-13 students were assessed by each faculty in separate breakout rooms over 15-20 minutes on all four components. Feedback on the conduct of the examination was collected from the students and faculty anonymously and analyzed. Results: Among 200 students who submitted their responses, 20% of them had previous experience of attending the OPrA. They differed in their opinion from the rest of the students on five aspects; time allotted for the assessment (P-value=0.02, χ2=5.07), students using unfair means during the online viva (P-value=0.02, χ2=5.57), their computing skills (P-value=0.001, χ2=19.82), their performance (P-value=0.001, χ2=8.84), and overall conduct of the examination (P-value=0.001, χ2=15.55). Conclusion: OPrA tools may be designed referring to Bloom’s taxonomy and prior exposure to the online tools may be beneficial for the students.

Inquiry-Based Teaching: Emotional Intelligence and Academic Excellence of University Students

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of inquiry-based teaching on emotional intelligence and academic excellence in students. This study aims to find the connection between emotional intelligence and academic excellence the of university students. This research was using the inquiry process as a learning and teaching in which the teachers provide detailed instruction and recognize issues in the form of questions and statements. The researcher used quantitative approach to collect the data through questionnaire. The population were included is three universities of Pakistan which is Islamia university of Bahawalpur, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan and NCBA&E university Bahawalpur as selected convenient non-random sampling. The data were analyzed interpreted by using Mean, T-test, Correlation and Regression Analysis. The results showed an interaction between the effects of inquiry-based teaching and emotional intelligence on students' academic excellence. Teachers need to use inquiry-based teaching so that students' academic excellence can be improved. In order for effective inquiry-based teaching, the emotional intelligence of students needs to be improved.

A forgotten social group: a Chinese photographic album

This applied thesis project focuses on a Chinese photographic album Work. The Manufacturing Industry in Dongguan: Real-life Stories of Migrant Workers housed at the Archive of Modern Conflict in Toronto. It is a handmade photographic album by Chinese photographer Zhan Youbing, consisting of 55 objects including 50 digital color prints (D2T2 prints) featuring the life of Chinese migrant workers in Dongguan, the biggest labor market in Southern China. This thesis comprises four components: a literature review introducing the unique status of migrant workers within the historical context of China’s urbanization and the preservation and conservation of photographic albums, an overview of the album, a complete illustrated catalogue of the 55 objects as well as a detailed instruction of the preservation of the album.

A forgotten social group: a Chinese photographic album

This applied thesis project focuses on a Chinese photographic album Work. The Manufacturing Industry in Dongguan: Real-life Stories of Migrant Workers housed at the Archive of Modern Conflict in Toronto. It is a handmade photographic album by Chinese photographer Zhan Youbing, consisting of 55 objects including 50 digital color prints (D2T2 prints) featuring the life of Chinese migrant workers in Dongguan, the biggest labor market in Southern China. This thesis comprises four components: a literature review introducing the unique status of migrant workers within the historical context of China’s urbanization and the preservation and conservation of photographic albums, an overview of the album, a complete illustrated catalogue of the 55 objects as well as a detailed instruction of the preservation of the album.

Offering mental health first aid to a person experiencing psychosis: a Delphi study to redevelop the guidelines published in 2008

Background Psychotic illnesses can have a major impact on those who experience them. Timely treatment for psychosis is important and friends, family members and the public can be a facilitating factor in social support and professional help-seeking. Expert consensus guidelines on how to provide mental health first aid to a person experiencing psychosis were developed in 2008. This Delphi study aimed to redevelop the guidelines to reflect current evidence. Methods The Delphi consensus method was used to determine which helping strategies should be included in the redeveloped guidelines. A systematic search of grey and academic literature was undertaken to identify strategies on how a member of the public can assist someone experiencing psychosis. These strategies were organised into questionnaire statements. Two expert panels—one comprising people with lived experience (Carers and Consumers) and one of professionals—completed three consecutive rounds of online survey questionnaires to rate the importance of each helping statement for inclusion in the guidelines. Statements were included in the guidelines if they were endorsed by at least 80% of each panel. Results The expert panels rated 515 statements across three rounds of surveys, with 325 statements meeting the criteria for inclusion in the redeveloped guidelines. 59 panel participants completed all three surveys. Conclusions The redeveloped guidelines outline a general set of strategies for providing initial assistance to a person who is experiencing psychosis. Compared to the original guidelines, these redeveloped guidelines provide more detailed instruction for members of the public on how to provide mental health first aid to assist a person experiencing psychosis. The guidelines are available to the public and will be used to update the Mental Health First Aid courses.

APPROACHES TO DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING CLINICAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL REGULATIONS ENSURING INFECTIOUS SAFETY AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL RESPONSE IN THE WORK PROCESS (THE CASE OF COVID-19)

The aim: Of the work was to develop clinical and organizational regulations ensuring infectious safety and epidemiological response in the work process (the case of COVID-19) based on the current legislative acts of Ukraine to combat the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), as well as on the data from international practices. Materials and methods: The research objective was carried out in accordance with the Methodology for the development of medical and technological documents for the standardization of medical care. Results: The Protocol includes organizational elements to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease, such as “The development of general provisions on infectious safety and antiepidemic measures during the COVID-19 pandemic in the company's workplaces, taking into account the legislative acts of Ukraine and international practices”, which include: the development of “Health Questionnaire” (epidemiological data questionnaire) for daily monitoring of the company employee health; the development of “Checklist for self-assessment of the workplace”, “Checklist for self-assessment of the public space”; the development of “Analytical report on compliance with the infectious safety rules in the workplace and in the public space on the basis of self-assessment”, thirteen Appendices. Conclusions: “The Protocol for infectious safety and antiepidemic measures in the work process” is a detailed instruction that provides a balance of compliance with medical standards and reasonable needs of employees and employers through the implementation of scientific evidence base in antiepidemic and infectious safety measures in the workplace.