Abstract: A method comprising accessing a first data structure that is associated with a first product prepared by a student and that includes first process data associated with a process performed by the student in generating the first product, analyzing the first data structure to generate a first characterization score based on the first product and the first process data, accessing a second data structure that is associated with a second product prepared by the student and that includes second process data associated with a process performed by the student in generating the second product, analyzing the second data structure to generate a second characterization score based on the second product and the second process data, and calculating a skill level change metric based on the first characterization score and the second characterization score indicating a change in ability level of the student over a course of the scenario-based assessment.

Abstract: An integrated circuit including a buck converter having an integrator and a shunt resistor is described. The buck converter may operate in a continuous conduction mode (CCM) and a discontinuous conduction mode (DCM). The integrator may be coupled to the buck converter to generate an output voltage based on adjustment of a detected voltage across a load of the buck converter within range of a reference voltage. The shunt resistor may be coupled to the integrator configured to maintain the output voltage of the integrator during the DCM.

Abstract: Biometric keystroke measure data derived from a computer-implemented long form examination taken by an examinee is received. Features are the extracted from the biometric keystroke measure data for the examinee. A similarity value is then determined, using one or more of a direct distance approach or a machine learning approach, for the extracted features relative to features extracted from biometric keystroke measure data derived from each of a plurality of other examinees while taking the long form examination. At least one of the determined similarity values is then identified having a value above a pre-defined threshold. The pre-defined threshold indicates a likelihood of the examinee being the same as one of the other examinees. Data can then be provided that characterizes the identification. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

Abstract: On a road on which a first lane, a second lane, and a third lane or a road shoulder are adjacent to each other, a vehicle control device executes an automatic lane change from the first lane to the second lane. In the case that a traffic regulating object that regulates passage of traffic in the third lane or on the road shoulder is placed in the third lane or on the road shoulder, and an external environment recognition unit recognizes the traffic regulating object, a lane change control unit restricts the automatic lane change.

Abstract: Confidence-boosted automated valuation systems and methods for performing confident processing of valuations from automated valuation models are disclosed. The confidence-boosted automated valuation system uses home/model data, actual values, and predicted values of homes to train a confidence model to produce confidence scores. The system can partition the homes into confident bins each containing homes with similar confidence scores. To generate a confidence score for a predicted value of a subject home, the confidence-boosted automated valuation system can apply the trained confidence model to the subject home. Using the generated confidence score, the confidence-boosted automated valuation system can identify a confidence bin the subject home falls in. The confidence-boosted automated valuation system can compute a predicted error in the predicted value of the subject home using the confidence bin.

Abstract: Systems and methods for defining and using an optimal burst boundary threshold to assess the reliability of a manual/automatic writing score are presented. Keystroke data, including inter-key interval data, such as inter-word interval data, may be gathered from writings. Clustering analyses may be performed on the inter-key interval data to determine an optimal number of bursts for the writings. An optimal burst boundary may be determined from the optimal number of bursts. Other burst-related measures and statistics, including the average and maximum burst lengths, may be determined from the writings based on the optimal burst boundary threshold. A score may be received for each of the writings. A validation indication metric may be generated for each of the writings based on the received score and the optimal burst boundary threshold. The resulting measures and statistics may be used or applied in different ways and provide personalized feedback as learning analytics.

Abstract: On a road on which a first lane, a second lane, and a third lane or a road shoulder are adjacent to each other, a vehicle control device executes an automatic lane change from the first lane to the second lane. In the case that a traffic regulating object that regulates passage of traffic in the third lane or on the road shoulder is placed in the third lane or on the road shoulder, and an external environment recognition unit recognizes the traffic regulating object, a lane change control unit restricts the automatic lane change.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for automatically scoring a response and statistically revaluating whether it can be considered as aberrant. In one embodiment, a constructed response is evaluated via a pre-screening stage and a post-hoc screening stage. The pre-screening stage attempts to determine whether the constructed response is aberrant based on a variety of aberration metrics and criteria. If the constructed response is deemed not to be aberrant, then the post-hoc screening stage attempts to predict a discrepancy between what score an automated scoring system would assigned and what score a human rater would assign to the response. If the discrepancy is sufficiently low, then the constructed response may be scored by an automated scoring engine. On the other hand, if the constructed response failed to pass either of the two stages, then a flag may be raised to indicate that additional human review may be needed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing feedback on a user's writing behavior in generating a constructed response. An electronic process log for the constructed response is received. The electronic process log is processed to generate a vector having a predetermined number of elements. The vector comprises information related to the user's actions in generating the constructed response and includes (i) data indicating types of actions performed by the user in generating the constructed response, (ii) time points associated with the actions, and (iii) locations associated with the actions, each location indicating whether an associated action occurred within a word, between words, within a phrase, between phrases, within a sentence, between sentences, within a paragraph, or between paragraph. The vector is compared to one or more vectors associated with other constructed responses, and feedback is generated based on the comparison.

Abstract: A method and a terminal device for switching perspective are provided. The terminal device receives a perspective switching instruction when the terminal device is in a first perspective mode in which the terminal device displays a scenario from a first perspective. The terminal device determines a second perspective mode to display the scenario from a second perspective. Next, the terminal devices adjusts a first display parameter of a first model of the scenario from the first perspective and a second display parameter of a second model of the scenario from the second perspective according to a preset rule for a transition from the first perspective mode to the second perspective mode. Further, the terminal device displays the first model according to the first display parameter and the second model according to the second display parameter during the transition from the first perspective mode to the second perspective mode.

Abstract: A method and a terminal device for switching perspective are provided. The terminal device receives a perspective switching instruction when the terminal device is in a first perspective mode in which the terminal device displays a scenario from a first perspective. The terminal device determines a second perspective mode to display the scenario from a second perspective. Next, the terminal devices adjusts a first display parameter of a first model of the scenario from the first perspective and a second display parameter of a second model of the scenario from the second perspective according to a preset rule for a transition from the first perspective mode to the second perspective mode. Further, the terminal device displays the first model according to the first display parameter and the second model according to the second display parameter during the transition from the first perspective mode to the second perspective mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for scoring a constructed response generated by a user and providing information on the user's writing behavior. A constructed response and associated electronic process log are received. The constructed response is processed to generate first feature values representative of aspects of the constructed response. The electronic process log is processed to generate second feature values related to the user's actions in generating the constructed response. A score for the constructed response is generated using the processing system by applying a computer scoring model to the first and second feature values. A rule of a rule engine that is satisfied is identified, the rule being satisfied when one or more feature values of the second feature values meet a condition associated with the rule. Information on the user's actions in generating the constructed response is provided based on the satisfied rule.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing isooctyl nitrate in a continuous flow reactor comprises flowing a H2SO4-HNO3 mixture within a flow reactor, flowing isooctyl alcohol into said flow reactor so as to mix the isooctyl alcohol with the H2SO4-HNO3 mixture and produce a reaction mixture stream flowing in said reactor, maintaining the reaction mixture stream flowing in said flow reactor at a reaction temperature within in the range ?10° to 35° C. inclusive, and wherein the residence time of the reaction mixture stream in the flow reactor is greater than or equal to 5 seconds and less than or equal to 40 seconds, and wherein the H2SO4 of the H2SO4-HNO3 mixture is H2SO4 having a concentration of in the range of 85 to 95% inclusive, more desirably 88 to 92% inclusive, most desirably of 90%.

Abstract: Geopolymers are one type of aluminosilicate materials formed through the polymerization of silicate and aluminate tetrahedrons. Geopolymer is used as a non-calcium-based stabilizer to mix with sulfate-rich soils. The stabilized soils were exposed to deionized water for 7 days until the volume of soil samples reached constant. Volumetric expansion of the sulfate-rich soil samples stabilized with metakaolin based geopolymer was 7 times lower than those stabilized with lime while the mechanical strength of stabilized soil samples were significantly improved.

Abstract: A process for synthesizing isooctyl nitrate in a continuous flow reactor comprises flowing a H2SO4—HNO3 mixture within a flow reactor, flowing isooctyl alcohol into said flow reactor so as to mix the isooctyl alcohol with the H2SO4—HNO3 mixture and produce a reaction mixture stream flowing in said reactor, maintaining the reaction mixture stream flowing in said flow reactor at a reaction temperature within in the range ?10° to 35° C. inclusive, and wherein the residence time of the reaction mixture stream in the flow reactor is greater than or equal to 5 seconds and less than or equal to 40 seconds, and wherein the H2SO4 of the H2SO4—HNO3 mixture is H2SO4 having a concentration of in the range of 85 to 95% inclusive, more desirably 88 to 92% inclusive, most desirably of 90%.

Abstract: Geopolymers are one type of aluminosilicate materials formed through the polymerization of silicate and aluminate tetrahedrons. Geopolymer is used as a non-calcium-based stabilizer to mix with sulfate-rich soils. The stabilized soils were exposed to deionized water for 7 days until the volume of soil samples reached constant. Volumetric expansion of the sulfate-rich soil samples stabilized with metakaolin based geopolymer was 7 times lower than those stabilized with lime while the mechanical strength of stabilized soil samples were significantly improved.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for generating a scoring model for responses. A computer-implemented method of calibrating a scoring model using a processing system for scoring examinee responses includes accessing a plurality of training responses for training the scoring model. The plurality of training responses are analyzed to derive values of multiple features (variables) of the training responses. The scoring model is trained based on the values of the multiple features of the training responses and one or more external measures of proficiency for each individual associated with a training response utilized in the training. The one or more external measures are not derived from the training responses. Based on the training, a weight for each of the multiple features is determined. The scoring model is calibrated to include the weights for at least some of the features for scoring examinee responses.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for scoring a constructed response generated by a user and providing information on the user's writing behavior. A constructed response and associated electronic process log are received. The constructed response is processed to generate first feature values representative of aspects of the constructed response. The electronic process log is processed to generate second feature values related to the user's actions in generating the constructed response. A score for the constructed response is generated using the processing system by applying a computer scoring model to the first and second feature values. A rule of a rule engine that is satisfied is identified, the rule being satisfied when one or more feature values of the second feature values meet a condition associated with the rule. Information on the user's actions in generating the constructed response is provided based on the satisfied rule.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for generating a scoring model for responses. A computer-implemented method of calibrating a scoring model using a processing system for scoring examinee responses includes accessing a plurality of training responses for training the scoring model. The plurality of training responses are analyzed to derive values of multiple features (variables) of the training responses. The scoring model is trained based on the values of the multiple features of the training responses and one or more external measures of proficiency for each individual associated with a training response utilized in the training. The one or more external measures are not derived from the training responses. Based on the training, a weight for each of the multiple features is determined. The scoring model is calibrated to include the weights for at least some of the features for scoring examinee responses.