Teaching construction sciences with the integration of BIM to undergraduate architecture students

This study aims to test two hypotheses: teaching building information modeling (BIM) in relation to construction science provides students with a remarkable understanding of the nature of construction science (Hypothesis 1), and if the student has positive attitude toward the use of the BIM program, then efficiency by which construction science is taught by its means is improved (Hypothesis 2). Results and process of a case study with a novel teaching methodology were discussed in terms of the benefits of the students. A questionnaire study was conducted on the student group with which the case study was performed to test each student's attitude. Results were evaluated statistically. When BIM is integrated with the teaching of basic construction courses within architecture degree programs, the students understood the building system principles simply and effectively. As a result of the statistical analysis, the students find the applied method effective. Moreover, their attitude toward BIM affects the process.     

Veterinarian perceptions on the care of surplus dairy calves

Both male and female calves that are not required in the dairy herd sometimes receive inadequate care on dairy farms. Veterinarians work with farmers to improve animal care, and farmers often view veterinarians as trusted advisors; however, little is known about the attitudes of veterinarians on surplus calves. This study investigated the perspectives of Canadian cattle veterinarians on the care and management of surplus calves, as well as how they view their role in improving care. We conducted 10 focus groups with a total of 45 veterinarians from 8 provinces across Canada. Recorded audio files were transcribed, anonymized, and coded using thematic analysis. We found that veterinarians approached surplus calf management issues from a wide lens, with 2 major themes emerging: (1) problematic aspects of surplus calf management, including colostrum management, transportation, and euthanasia, and suggested management and structural solutions, including ways to improve the economic value of these calves, and (2) the veterinarian's role in advising dairy farmers on the care of surplus calves, including on technical issues, and more broadly working with farmers to better address public concerns. We conclude that veterinarians are concerned about the care of surplus calves on dairy farms and believe that they have an important role in developing solutions together with their farmer clientele.     

Can video games change attitudes towards history? Results from a laboratory experiment measuring short- and long-term effects

This study investigates a video game's effects on implicit and explicit attitudes towards depicted historical events in the short- and long-term on a sample of 148 young adults. We used, as an intervention tool, a serious game Czechoslovakia 38–89: Borderlands that deals with the expulsion of the Sudeten Germans from the former Czechoslovakia after the WWII. Results showed more negative pretest-posttest explicit attitude changes towards the expulsion on a general level (d = −0.34) and a specific level (d = −0.53) compared to the control group. Over the long-term, group differences in attitude change remained significant for the specific level (d = −0.44), but not for general one (d = −0.16). Exploratory analysis on the item level indicated that especially attitudes towards the expulsion's (un)fairness were affected by the game. However, no significant changes were found in implicit attitudes in the experimental group. This study is the first of such scale to empirically investigate video games' effects on a society's historical awareness.     

重新找回人工智能的可解释性

针对深度神经网络AI研究的可解释性瓶颈，指出刚性逻辑（数理形式逻辑）和二值神经元等价，二值神经网络可转换成逻辑表达式，有强可解释性。深度神经网络一味增加中间层数来拟合大数据，没有适时通过抽象把最小粒度的数据（原子）变成粒度较大的知识（分子），再把较小粒度的知识变成较大粒度的知识，把原有的强可解释性淹没在中间层次的汪洋大海中。要支持多粒度的知识处理，需把刚性逻辑扩张为柔性命题逻辑（命题级数理辩证逻辑），把二值神经元扩张为柔性神经元，才能保持强可解释性。本文详细介绍了从刚性逻辑到柔性逻辑的扩张过程和成果，最后介绍了它们在AI研究中的应用，这是重新找回AI研究强可解释性的最佳途径。     

命题逻辑提升到一阶逻辑上的子句消去方法

在基于命题逻辑的可满足性问题（SAT）求解器和基于一阶逻辑的定理证明器上，子句集简化一直是必不可少的步骤，而其中子句消去方法在这些子句集简化方法中是非常重要的组成部分。将命题逻辑中的子句消去方法归结隐藏恒真消去方法（RHTE）和归结隐藏包含消去方法（RHSE）提升到一阶逻辑上，并且利用蕴含模归结原则（IMR）证明了这种提升方式在一阶逻辑上具有可靠性（Soundness），即依据这两种子句消去方法删除一阶逻辑公式集中的子句，并不会改变公式集的可满足性或者不可满足性。此外，将这两个方法与一阶逻辑子句消去方法锁子句消去方法（BCE）和归结包含消去方法（RSE）进行组合推广，发展得到一阶逻辑上新型子句消去方法（BC+RHS）E、（RS+RHT）E和（RHS+RHT）E，并且证明了这3种子句消去方法在一阶逻辑上的可靠性。最后，分析比较了这些子句消去方法的有效性，并且证明了这3种新型子句消去方法比组成它们的原始子句消去方法均具有更高的有效性。     

增加[Δ]算子的Gödel[n]值命题逻辑系统理论的平均真度

在添加了[Δ]算子Gödeln值命题逻辑系统中，给出了Gödel[n]值命题逻辑系统中有限理论的平均真度的定义，给出了该系统下的一些重要结论并给予证明，验证了在该系统下平均真度的一些基本性质，为进一步在该系统下研究平均真度奠定了基础。     

Farm business and operator variables associated with bulk tank somatic cell count from dairy herds in the southeastern United States

Mastitis is a worldwide problem in dairy cows and results in reduced milk production, the culling of cows, and other economic losses. Bulk tank somatic cell count (BTSCC) over 200,000 cells/mL often indicates underlying subclinical mastitis in dairy herds. Several preventative measures that can be implemented to help improve the incidence of mastitis exist, but surveys find these practices not fully adopted by producers. The goal of this research was to analyze the farm and operator characteristics associated with BTSCC in dairy herds by analyzing a survey of dairy producers in the southeastern United States. We examined this region because it has experienced a decline in the number of dairy farms, dairy cows, and milk production over the past 2 decades. The southeast region is also associated with higher BTSCC levels than the national average. Dairy farms in Georgia, Mississippi, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia were surveyed. Producers were asked questions about the BTSCC at which they take action to address BTSCC, the information sources they use to learn about and manage BTSCC, farm structure and management characteristics, and attitudinal variables associated with profitability, managerial control, and planning horizon. Least squares regression was used to determine how these factors were associated with BTSCC levels across the 7-state region. Concern over mastitis, financial consequences of mastitis, and increased previous-year BTSCC were associated with higher current BTSCC levels. Obtaining information about mastitis from veterinarians and extension personnel, taking action against mastitis at a BTSCC less than 300,000 cells/mL, and perceived ability to control processes and mastitis incidence were associated with reduced BTSCC. We found average BTSCC was lower in North Carolina and Virginia. These results suggest that proactive producers (i.e., those that perceive they can control BTSCC and seek information from reliable sources), were more likely to report lower BTSCC. As a result, it may be possible to achieve improved milk quality, evident from lowered BTSCC, across the region.     

How attitude strength biases information processing and evaluation on the web

In this study we examined the influence of attitude strength on the processing and evaluation of sources and information on the Web. Seventy-nine German university students participated in an eye-tracking study in which they read information from eight pre-selected websites from different sources on the controversial topic of organic foods. Results showed that participants who felt strongly about the topic (i.e., those with strong prior attitude strength) scrutinized website logos of attitude-inconsistent websites shorter and judged the credibility of attitude-inconsistent websites lower. They also included more attitude-consistent information in an essay task than participants with weaker prior attitudes. Participants who felt less strongly about the topic (i.e., those with weaker prior attitudes) fixated longer on text from attitude-inconsistent websites than from attitude-consistent websites. By contrast, for participants with strong prior attitudes the time spent on the texts from attitude-consistent websites and attitude-inconsistent websites did not differ significantly. The results show that prior attitudes can bias evaluation and processing of information in different ways. Even though participants were not fully biased during initial information processing, they were so when evaluating the information and presenting it in an essay task.