Managing the Risk of Aggressive Dog Behavior: Investigating the Influence of Owner Threat and Efficacy Perceptions

Aggressive behavior in pet dogs is a serious problem for dog owners across the globe, with bite injuries representing a serious risk to both people and other dogs. The effective management of aggressive behavior in dogs represents a challenging and controversial issue. Although positive reinforcement training methods are now considered to be the most effective and humane technique to manage the risk of aggression, punishment‐based methods continue to be used. Unfortunately, there has been little scientific study into the various factors influencing whether dog owners choose to use positive reinforcement techniques to manage aggression in their dogs. As such, current understanding of how best to encourage and support dog owners to use these methods remains extremely limited. This article uses a survey methodology based on protection motivation theory (PMT) to investigate the factors that influence owner use of positive reinforcement methods to manage aggressive behavior, in an attempt to understand potential barriers and drivers of use. In addition, the article provides an initial exploration of the potential role of wider psychological factors, including owner emotional state, social influence, and cognitive bias. Findings show that the perceived efficacy of positive reinforcement methods and the perceived ability of owners to effectively implement the technique are both key factors predicting future intentions and current reported use. Future interventions should focus on enhancing owner confidence in the effective use of positive reinforcement techniques across multiple scenarios, as well as helping owners manage their own emotional responses when they encounter challenging situations and setbacks.     

Is a Reasonable Attempt Reasonable? Shaping Versus Reinforcing Verbal Attempts of Preschoolers with Autism

The effectiveness of a language-training procedure that emphasized reinforcing vocal “reasonable attempts” (any response directed at an interventionist and within a broader class of correct responses) was compared with a procedure that emphasized shaping (reinforcing successive approximations that more closely resembled the target vocalization). Three preschoolers who had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders participated in the study. Data indicated that the children mastered vocal skills more rapidly when they learned through shaping than in the reasonable attempts condition. Implications for teaching children with autism spectrum disorders are discussed.     

强化学习型匝道控制模型的研究

高速公路上的交通堵塞造成了道路利用效率低下，并伴随着能源消耗和环境污染问题，因此各种各样的高速公路控制方法应用于缓解交通堵塞。本文提出强化学习型匝道控制模型，该模型以交通流模拟为预测工具，以人工智能的强化学习为最优化选择模型，并具有一定的自主性、有记忆功能和性能反馈功能，且是一种动态的过程。应用JAVA针对不同的交通状态进行模拟再现，模拟结果表明匝道控制模型对于减少交通堵塞具有显著的效果。     

修复与强化:美韩同盟关系的新发展

1953年10月美韩同盟建立至今,两国关系起伏不断,曲折发展。2008年李明博上台后,美韩关系进入"修复"期,2010年3月的"天安号事件"和11月的延坪岛炮击事件为两国关系注入了"固化剂"。美韩同盟的强化是多重因素综合作用的结果,其中既有中国崛起的宏观背景,也与美韩两国出于国家利益的战略选择密切相关,突发事件成为美韩同盟强化的直接动因。美韩同盟关系的新发展对中国东北亚安全利益产生了一些不利影响,如何应对当前的被动局面,有效化解中国与周边国家的矛盾,事关中国和平发展的大局,值得我们认真思考。     

Fast On-Line/Off-Line Algorithms for Optimal Reinforcement of a Network and its Connections with Principal Partition

The problem of computing the strength and performing optimal reinforcement for an edge-weighted graph G(V, E, w) is well-studied. In this paper, we present fast (sequential linear time and parallel logarithmic time) on-line algorithms for optimally reinforcing the graph when the reinforcement material is available continuously on-line. These are the first on-line algorithms for this problem. We invest O(|V|³|E|log|V|) time (equivalent to (|V|) invocations of the fastest known algorithms for optimal reinforcement) in preprocessing the graph before the start of our algorithms. It is shown that the output of our on-line algorithms is as good as that of the off-line algorithms. Thus our algorithms are better than the fastest off-line algorithms in situations when a sequence of more than (|V|) reinforcement problems need to be solved. The key idea is to make use of ideas underlying the theory of Principal Partition of a Graph. Our ideas are easily generalized to the general setting of polymatroid functions. We also present a new efficient algorithm for computation of the Principal Sequence of a graph.     

切实增强失地农民再就业培训的实效

目前,失地农民失业形势比较严峻,根本原因是其自身素质相对偏低,切实开展失地农民再就业培训势在必行。但由于制度规范缺乏、思想观念滞后、宣传工作较薄弱、培训针对性和实用性不强、管理机制不健全等因素制约,失地农民培训和再就业的效果仍不甚明显。因此,应尽快制定相关制度、加强宣传引导工作、实施有效的示范和激励、注重培训需求的表达和整合、建立健全管理机制等,以增强失地农民再就业培训实效。     

Effect of perceived cost on judgments regarding the efficacy of investment

Three experiments examined the effect of costs associated with investments on the judgments of the causal effectiveness of those investments, and on the type of information utilised when making those judgements. Using operant conditioning technology, in an experimental analogue of making economic investments, it was found that greater costs associated with an investment reduced the judgement about the effectiveness of the response (Experiment 1). Greater investment costs tended to bias the subject toward using information integrated over a longer period of time; whereas low costs tended to produce judgements made on the basis of the conditions prevailing immediately prior to the return being acquired (Experiments 1–3). The effect of cost was modulated by the subjects' own financial background. The same absolute cost being treated as “greater” by those from less wealthy backgrounds compared to those from more affluent backgrounds (Experiments 2 and 3). These results suggest that as well as the nature of the schedule relating investment to return, the perceived cost of the investment determines the manner in which it is judged with respect to its efficacy.     

重载铁路圆柱形桥墩横向振动试验研究

随着我国既有铁路扩能运输的实施,运营列车的轴重以及载运量逐步增加给圆柱形桥墩带来了越来越严重影响,如墩顶横向振幅过大、冲击振动加剧等,严重影响了铁路桥梁的安全运营。以朔黄铁路圆柱形桥墩为研究对象,理论结合试验分析其加固前后在列车荷载增大的情况下桥墩的横向动力特性,研究不同运营列车作用下桥墩横向振动的规律,评价分析该圆柱形桥墩加固效果,为重载铁路圆柱形桥墩的加固研究和维护管理提供科学依据。     

论民事诉讼中的补强证据规则

民事补强证据规则是指在民事案件中,指导法官运用补强证据使主证据获得证据能力,或增强主证据证明力以达到认定案件事实效果的规则,并且在这一过程中无需考虑补强证据是否对案件事实具有独立证明作用。以法官内心确认是否是需要补强证据的唯一因素为标准,可以将补强证据规则分为“孤证不能定案”的补强证据规则和瑕疵证据的补强证据规则,通过考察我国当前有关补强证据规则的理论基础、立法规定和司法实践,发现还存在内涵不统一,立法规定较为散乱和滞后,举证、质证和认证阶段缺乏必要的程序和标准等问题,尚需进一步从制度、程序和释明等方面加以探讨和完善。     

加固后并行钢板梁桥横向振动对平联杆件应力的影响

实测资料表明，上下行并行的钢板梁桥在采用“两桥连接”加固以后，平联杆件的弯曲变形和断裂现象急剧增多。为了分析产生这一问题的原因，采用ANSYS分析软件对40111上承式钢板梁建立了有限元模型，就横向振动与钢板梁在采用“两桥连接”加固以后平联杆件急剧出现的弯曲变形现象之间的关联性进行分析，计算出了加固前后平联杆件在不同横向振幅下的应力变化情况，分析得出“横向连接”加固是引起平联杆件大量出现弯曲变形现象的主要原因。