Automatic generation of multiple choice questions using dependency-based semantic relations

In this paper, we present an unsupervised dependency-based approach to extract semantic relations to be applied in the context of automatic generation of multiple choice questions (MCQs). MCQs also known as multiple choice tests provide a popular solution for large-scale assessments as they make it much easier for test-takers to take tests and for examiners to interpret their results. Manual generation of MCQs is a very expensive and time-consuming task and yet they often need to be produced on a large scale and within short iterative cycles. We approach the problem of automated MCQ generation with the help of unsupervised relation extraction, a technique used in a number of related natural language processing problems. The goal of Unsupervised relation extraction is to identify the most important named entities and terminology in a document and then recognise semantic relations between them, without any prior knowledge as to the semantic types of the relations or their specific linguistic realisation. We use these techniques to process instructional texts and identify those facts (terminology, entities, and semantic relations between them) that are likely to be important for assessing test-takers’ familiarity with the instructional material. We investigate an approach to learn semantic relations between named entities by employing a dependency tree model. Our findings show that an optimised configuration of our MCQ generation system is capable of attaining high precision rates, which are much more important than recall in the automatic generation of MCQs. We also carried out a user-centric evaluation of the system, where subject domain experts evaluated automatically generated MCQ items in terms of readability, usefulness of semantic relations, relevance, acceptability of questions and distractors and overall MCQ usability. The results of this evaluation make it possible for us to draw conclusions about the utility of the approach in practical e-Learning applications.     

Nanocrystalline β-Ti alloy with high hardness,low Young's modulus and excellent in vitro biocompatibility for biomedical applications

High strength, low Young's modulus and good biocompatibility are desirable but difficult to simultaneously achieve in metallic implant materials for load bearing applications, and these impose significant challenges in material design. Here we report that a nano-grained β-Ti alloy prepared by high-pressure torsion exhibits remarkable mechanical and biological properties. The hardness and modulus of the nano-grained Ti alloy were respectively 23% higher and 34% lower than those of its coarse-grained counterpart. Fibroblast cell attachment and proliferation were enhanced, demonstrating good in vitro biocompatibility of the nano-grained Ti alloy, consistent with demonstrated increased nano-roughness on the nano-grained Ti alloy. Results suggest that the nano-grained β-Ti alloy may have significant application as an implant material in dental and orthopedic applications.     

4-D pattern structure features by three stages clustering algorithm for image analysis and classification

An approach for decomposition of visual image by clustering, pattern analysis and classification by structure features is considered. Hierarchical clusters such as rectangles, closed regions and integrated areas are objects of investigation. By hierarchically constructed fragments, the 4-D pattern structure features are formulated. To reduce the clustering algorithm complexity, the scanning area approach is proposed. The results of pattern analysis and classification by structure features for some images are presented.     

Issues concerning atmospheric turbidity indices

Knowledge of atmospheric turbidity coefficients is very important in meteorology, climatology, atmospheric pollution monitoring, and in the prediction of solar energy availability under cloudless skies. This paper provides a thorough review on a number of atmospheric turbidity indices and on the several methods that have been developed in the past few decades. The Lambert–Bouguer–Beer law is the basic relationship underlying the derivation of various turbidity indices. Turbidity can be referred to as monochromatic (narrow band) wavelengths, broadband wavelengths, and the total spectrum. Narrow band turbidity is measured using sun photometers, while the other two turbidities are measured using pyrheliometers with broadband pass filters. The Ångström's turbidity coefficients and the Linke's turbidity factor are among the most frequently used atmospheric turbidity coefficients.     

VI3—a New Layered Ferromagnetic Semiconductor

2D materials are promising candidates for next‐generation electronic devices. In this regime, insulating 2D ferromagnets, which remain rare, are of special importance due to their potential for enabling new device architectures. Here the discovery of ferromagnetism is reported in a layered van der Waals semiconductor, VI₃, which is based on honeycomb vanadium layers separated by an iodine–iodine van der Waals gap. It has a BiI₃‐type structure ( $R\overline{3}$, No.148) at room temperature, and the experimental evidence suggests that it may undergo a subtle structural phase transition at 78 K. VI₃ becomes ferromagnetic at 49 K, below which magneto‐optical Kerr effect imaging clearly shows ferromagnetic domains, which can be manipulated by the applied external magnetic field. The optical bandgap determined by reflectance measurements is 0.6 eV, and the material is highly resistive.     

Chemical evaluation and kinetics of Siberian,north regions of Russia and Republic of Tatarstan crude oils

In this research, thermal characteristics and model free kinetics of five different °American Petroleum Institute gravity crude oil samples from different locations were studied using combustion calorimetry and thermogravimetry (TGA) techniques. Higher heating values of crude oils were determined from the combustion calorimetry experiments. It was shown that these values increase with an increase in saturate fraction and °API gravity of studied samples and decrease with an increase in viscosity, aromatics fraction, and resin fraction of crude oils. In thermogravimetry, experiments were performed at 10, 20, and 30°C/min heating rates under an air atmosphere. Thermal characteristics of the samples such as reaction intervals and corresponding peak temperatures, mass loss, and residue of the crude oil samples were also determined. Two different model free kinetic methods, known as Ozawa–Flynn–Wall (OFW) and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS), were used in order to determine the activation energy values of the crude oil samples studied.     

Structure and mechanical properties of nanostructured Al–Mg alloys processed by severe plastic deformation

Structural features, microhardness, and mechanical properties of three binary Al–Mg alloys and a commercial AA5182 alloy subjected to high pressure torsion at room temperature were comparatively investigated using transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and quantitative X-ray diffraction measurements. Average grain sizes measured by dark-field images are in the range 71–265 nm while the sizes of coherent domains decreased tremendously from 86 to 46 nm as the Mg content increased from 0.5 to 4.1 wt%. The average dislocation density in the deformed alloys is in the range 0.37 × 10¹⁴–4.97 × 10¹⁴ m^?2. Both the microhardness and tensile strength of all the deformed alloys increased dramatically as compared to the undeformed counterparts. The yield strength with values ranging from 390 to 690 MPa in the deformed alloys is typically five to seven times higher than that of the same undeformed alloys. Calculations based on the Hall–Petch and Taylor equations suggest that the strengthening mechanisms contributing to the very high strength may depend not only on the conventional mechanisms of grain size strengthening and dislocation strengthening, but also on the additional mechanisms related to the contributions from stacking faults and nanotwins, and nonequilibrium GBs observed in the deformed alloys.     

Features of Polymethacrylic Acid and Poly-2-Methyl-5-Vinylpyridine Hydrogels Remote Interaction in an Aqueous Medium

The remote interaction of polymethacrylic acid hydrogel with a poly-2-methyl-5-vinylpyridine hydrogel was studied. The aim of work was to study the dependence of the swelling coefficient, the conductivity and the pH of the water solutions of intergel system at different mass ratios from time were studied. The goal was achieved by using following methods： pH-metry, conductometry and gravimetry.     

Zone-boundary optimization for direct laser writing of continuous-relief diffractive optical elements

Enhancing the diffraction efficiency of continuous-relief diffractive optical elements fabricated by direct laser writing is discussed. A new method of zone-boundary optimization is proposed to correct exposure data only in narrow areas along the boundaries of diffractive zones. The optimization decreases the loss of diffraction efficiency related to convolution of a desired phase profile with a writing-beam intensity distribution. A simplified stepped transition function that describes optimized exposure data near zone boundaries can be made universal for a wide range of zone periods. The approach permits a similar increase in the diffraction efficiency as an individual-pixel optimization but with fewer computation efforts. Computer simulations demonstrated that the zone-boundary optimization for a 6 microm period grating increases the efficiency by 7% and 14.5% for 0.6 microm and 1.65 microm writing-spot diameters, respectively. The diffraction efficiency of as much as 65%-90% for 4-10 microm zone periods was obtained experimentally with this method.     

Solar attenuation by aerosols: An overview

One of the most important factors affecting the attenuation of solar radiation reaching the earth's surface under cloudless sky conditions is the presence of aerosol particles. A direct measurement of the aerosol transmittance is not possible due to the strong influence of the other atmospheric components. Thus the extinction caused by the atmospheric aerosol can be calculated only indirectly using fundamental physical techniques. This work provides an overview of the effect of aerosols on solar radiation budget by considering two common turbidity parameters including the Linke turbidity factor T_L and Ångström turbidity coefficients β and α. Total extinction of solar radiation due to the absorption and the scattering caused by the atmospheric aerosol accounts for 10–20% for zero zenith angle. The influence of aerosol on radiation passing through the atmosphere cannot be neglected, especially in urban or industrialized areas. The attenuation of solar radiation through a real atmosphere versus that through a clean dry atmosphere gives an indication of the atmospheric turbidity.