1925 research outputs found
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Primed and prejudiced: examining the effects of priming religious exemplars on prejudice toward Muslims
Get PDFPriming techniques have recently been used to gain insight into the causal effects of religiosity on prosocial and antisocial outcomes. Previous research has demonstrated that religious priming may increase prejudice. However, little research has examined how varying the content of the religious primes may impact prejudice. It has been suggested that activating rewards associated with religion may increase prosocial behavior, but no research has been done examining whether activating religious moral ideals associated with an exemplar of one's religion may also result in increased prosocial behaviors. The present study tested primes that varied in their religious content (religious vs. non-religious) and the presence of a moral exemplar (exemplar vs. non-exemplar). We predicted that priming a religious moral exemplar would activate prosocial ideals associated with one's religion. Consistent with previous literature, it was hypothesized that the non-exemplar religious prime would increase prejudiced attitudes toward Muslims, but that priming a religious exemplar would result in less prejudiced attitudes than the non-exemplar religious prime. Results showed that the non-exemplar religious prime did increase prejudiced attitudes toward Muslims compared to a control, but there was not evidence that religious exemplar primes reduced prejudice compared to non-exemplar religious primes. There was some evidence that priming a religious moral exemplar tempered the prejudiced attitudes activated by religious cognition. This study has implications for the spiritual modeling theory as well as the psychology of religion to further examine ways in which modifying the content of religious primes produces differential effects on prejudiced attitudes
Quantifying bridge resilience
Get PDFDeviations in weather patterns have changed the demands facing the nation’s infrastructure. “Extreme” weather events (i.e. those characterized as having a low probability of occurring yet result in a high consequence) are increasing in intensity, frequency, or both. Because these changes are happening on a relatively short timescale, existing probabilistic methods used by engineers to model weather events are increasingly obsolete. The most effective approach for designing structures to resist the effects of unpredictable events is to incorporate principles of resilience into their design. Resilient structures better adapt, quickly recover, and minimize the destructive outcomes of an unpredictable destructive event. In this paper, a method is proposed for rating and quantifying the structural resilience of a bridge. The proposed method specifically focuses on bridges and the relationship between their resilience and structural inputs. To demonstrate the extent of the proposed approach, four distinct bridges are chosen for a comparative case study. Each bridge falls into a category with varying combinations of high and low sufficiency and resilience ratings. Resilience ratings are calculated for each bridge and compared with their sufficiency ratings to demonstrate that high sufficiency is not indicative of high resilience. Both the sufficiency and resilience ratings of bridges should be analyzed separately and in compliment with each other when making decisions related to their design, construction, and maintenance
Developing cooperation: Discovering supportive legal frameworks and policies for worker owned cooperatives
Get PDFWorker cooperatives are an important economic development tool and way of conducting business that takes human well being into account, beyond mere profit. In the United States, however, there are relatively few worker cooperatives. Some authors have suggested that institutional factors, such as laws and financial practices, may not adequately suit worker cooperatives and hinder their growth. This paper attempts to discover and address these challenges through semi-structured interviews with members from nine worker cooperatives and respondents from seven support agencies across the United States. This paper also presents solutions to these problems, via success factors, discovered in interviews and through literature. Challenges and success factors are then codified in components of a state statute, legal policies, and legal actions. Three Nevada state legislators were then interviewed to discover which legal policies, actions, or components of a state statute were politically viable for the 2019 Nevada state legislature. Many challenges were discovered, including institutional challenges. All challenges had some way of being addressed. All three Nevada legislators thought a state statute could likely be passed in 2019, if no fiscal note was attached
Performance evaluation of asphalt mixtures subject to climatic effect
Get PDFAs extreme and unpredicted weather events are increasing, considering climatic effect on civil engineering structures is becoming a primary concern. The transportation system is one of the most important Civil Engineering Infrastructures. Pavement is a fundamental element in the transportation system. Most of the models used in evaluating pavement designs are based on the applied traffic load repetitions. However, there are other factors affecting the service life of asphalt pavements, such as environment and climate conditions. Previous studies showed that the response of a pavement system is highly dependent on its temperature. Temperature of pavement surfaces can be affected by numerous factors, such as air temperature, precipitation, and speed of wind as well as solar radiations. Temperature data is important to determine the amount of stress acting on a pavement surface. Thus, the deflection of pavements is highly influenced by its temperature. Temperature is also a main contributor to multiple types of pavement distresses, resulting in a significant impact on the service life of the pavement.
The objective of this thesis is to investigate the effect of temperature variations on the performance of asphalt pavements. Four different climate factors will be considered. In part one, the behavior of asphalt mixtures in resisting low temperature cracking is evaluated. The study is done by comparing the low temperature properties of two types of asphalt binders: styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) modified asphalt binder and conventional asphalt binder, through laboratory tests and numerical analysis. In part two, the effect of freeze-thaw cycles on asphalt mixtures is studied, by conducting numerical simulations and finite element analysis. In part three, the impact of extreme high temperatures on the behavior of asphalt mixtures is studied, through laboratory tests and numerical analysis. In part four, the influence of solar radiations on the performance of asphalt concrete pavements is investigated, through the performance of computer software analysis and solar radiation modeling. Based on the outcomes of the different case studies, conclusions and recommendations are presented for future research needs on evaluating the climate effect on the behavior of asphalt mixtures
Sustainable transportation: biking in Groningen, Netherlands
No full textThe basis of this thesis research was to identify and analyze daily life patterns among individuals living in Groningen, Netherlands who utilize a bicycle as a main mode of transportation. In the Netherlands bicycles are commonly used for daily travel for trips with destinations within the city. The normalcy of bike use among people living in Groningen who are in a variety of different life phases, have differing amounts of income, and are of different ages and different genders influenced their decision to continue to bike and to view it as the most convenient mode of transportation for distances that are 30 minutes or less away by bicycle. To complete this research, I spent two months in Groningen, Netherlands in the summer of 2017 conducting unstructured interviews, semi-structured interviews, directing participants to complete mapping exercises about their transportation habits, and gaining a deeper understanding through participant observation. This results of this research are based off of the information gained through these methods as well as research completed on the countries political history, development patterns, and important social events that helped to shape the functionality of modern Dutch society. Interview participants routinely stated that biking was an integral part of their childhoods, bike theft influenced their biking habits, their grocery store visits were influenced by their transportation mode choice, they regularly utilized multiple modes of transportation, and factors such as cost and weather influenced their daily decision to use a bike for their commute. Bikes are well integrated into modern life in the country and in Groningen specifically. Residents do not feel that they are limited by their choice to use bicycles for daily transportation
Fostering dissent, critical consciousness, and transformation: dialogues and journals on the U.S. military
No full textDissent and critical consciousness are imperative components for a group dialogue to be transformative. However, because of the continued militarization of the United States and its culture of violence, critical dialogue about the military is often taboo and discouraged. This case study aimed to foster dissent, critical consciousness, and transformation among participants in the face of ongoing violence and militarization. The study’s literature review and theoretical framework informed the historical-cultural background of the study’s significance, the facilitation and participation guidelines necessary for a critical, transformative dialogue, and the possibilities of dialogue for social change. I collected data from three critical dialogue sessions and six journal prompts with a small group of U.S. military veteran participants. I facilitated dialogues with the participants about topics related to the U.S. military that participants were interested in based on contention. To analyze the collected data, I used qualitative data analysis. I found that the connection and identity of the dialogue group changed from the start to the conclusion of the study. The two main topics we discussed were: (1) expressions of patriotism and (2) gender, violence, and the military “hero.” Early on, some participants exhibited militaristic core beliefs and problematic communication practices when sharing reflections on their personal military experiences and arguing their points. Eventually, all participants engaged critically, compassionately, and displayed shifts in behaviors and thinking. Participants welcomed dissent, built upon a collective consciousness, and made possible transformation within each other as well as inspired possibilities for social action. This study adds to literature on dialogue and the culture of violence because it engages participants in a process important to social change and directly brings into question the institution of the military. The research elucidates the significance of dialogue in relation to sustainable communities, especially about contentious issues related to the powerful and destructive institutions and systems in place. Finally, in this study I ask new questions about how dialogue may reinforce the status quo and how demilitarization efforts can be situated among other movements towards equity, justice, and liberation
Arizona’s Move On When Reading: was earlier identification of those likely to be retained possible?
No full textThe objective of this retrospective study was to determine if second grade Stanford 10 (SAT10) reading and/or language scale scores were predictive of AIMS reading outcomes in third grade, thereby providing a means to identify third grade students at risk of retention in accordance with Arizona’s (MOWR) legislation. Early identification of students at risk of retention would afford educators the opportunity to be preemptive and plan for targeted intervention to ameliorate that risk for Arizona’s third grade students. Predictability of AIMS reading performance from SAT10 scores would have provided educators across the state with a valid, reliable, standardized means by which to plan for and further ensure student success.
Second grade SAT10 reading and language scale scores from 2010-2013 cohorts and those same students’ third grade AIMS reading scores (2011-2014) from a Title I, K-8 school district in southwestern Arizona was the population from which the study sample was drawn. The sample included only full academic year (FAY) general education students who had matched scores, meaning the students attended school within the study district for both their second and third grade years. Special education and English language learner students’ data were excluded from the study because there is a provision within MOWR legislation that can preclude those students’ retention and the data available for analysis did not have specific information that would have allowed disaggregation of those students into the appropriate groupings—those eligible for retention and those precluded according to legislation. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed; the dependent variable was third grade AIMS reading scale scores and variables explored were ethnicity, gender, and free/reduced lunch participation. Both SAT10 reading and language subtests scale scores in second grade were statistically significant predictors of those same students’ third grade AIMS reading scale scores. While neither gender nor ethnicity statistically significantly added to the predictive equation for either SAT10 subtest, students’ free and reduced lunch (F/RL) participation did. The relationship between F/RL and test scores was negative, thereby predicting a lower score for students for the reading portion of AIMS in third grade
Visioning a just energy future: a case study of democracy and justice in community renewables
No full textEnergy consumption is a passive act of industrialized societies that contributes to the injustices and exploitation of communities with energy rich resources. Eliminating injustices within the energy system requires consideration of social and political aspects of such system, which is prevalent within community renewable energy (CRE). CRE aims to decarbonize through renewable energy investment, decentralize through localization of energy supplies, and democratize through community ownership and participatory decision-making (Hicks & Ison, 2011). This research study investigates how CRE exemplifies democratic relationships and just practices as ways to establish equitable energy systems. Presented as a case study, this research highlights the work of MCE Clean Energy (MCE), California’s first community choice aggregate (CCA) program. To evaluate MCE’s democratic and just practices, this research applies two energy justice frameworks to distinguish the strengths of MCE’s work, as well as areas in which democracy and justice can be better incorporated. This case study supports existing CRE work and provides a vision for equitable transformation of energy systems
Geometric effects in photocatalytic active matter
No full textThe study of photocatalytic active matter is an emerging study in nanoscience.
These so-called microswimmers are of interest to many for perceived applications.
However, the first step is to gain control of the motion of these active colloids and
understand what factors affect their swimming patterns. In this study, we have
investigated the dynamics of photoactive colloids and looked at the morphology relationship
in the swimming behavior of these particles. Using the Glancing Angle
Deposition (GLAD) fabrication technique, we have successfully synthesized lightactivated
particles utilizing photoactive materials. From our results, we determine
that the swimmers do exhibit a unique and autonomous swimming behaviour depending
upon their morphology. The direction of motion and velocity are the parameters
we looked at. Since the swimming pattern is strongly linked to the geometry of the
photocatayltic active colloids, GLAD allows for small-scale propulsion by altering the
fabrication parameters to match the desired performance. Eventually, this would lead
to better control of these colloids for future implementations
Mapping land management agency resilience in the Sonoran Desert Ecoregion
No full textThe southwestern United States is transitioning to a drier climate as a result of climate change. Located within this region, the Sonoran Desert is the most biodiverse desert in North America with numerous threatened and endangered species endemic to this ecoregion. The region is ill-equipped to accommodate the anticipated effects of shifting fire regimes associated with global climate change. Proliferation of non-native annuals associated with human disturbance and a changing climate have introduced regular wildfire to this system, historically comprised of non fire-adapted native plants. Furthermore, fire frequency and intensity are projected to increase in this region as a result of increased flammability and a longer fire season due to rapid drying of fuels. This research fits into the larger FireAdapt Joint Science Fire Program research project, which seeks to map and model ecological, social, and ultimately socioecological resilience of land management agencies in the Sonoran Desert Ecoregion in the face of shifting fire regimes. To map social resilience of land management agencies on a jurisdictional level, this research collects management data from jurisdictional land managers across the region and performs data analysis to build a management resilience map based on four resilience indicators. Of the area analyzed, 17% classified as low resilience, 16% as low-moderate, 56% as moderate, 7% as moderate-high, and 3% as high. GIS data reflecting land managers' experience with fire and perceptions of organizational constraints (i.e., financial constraints) were then overlaid on this resilience map to examine the presence of these factors with relation to variation in mapped resilience. Variation in prevalence of fire history and extent of constraint by resilience level do not provide conclusive indication that either of these factors plays a dominant role in explaining the presence of low resilience areas. By drawing upon participatory GIS and mapping strategies to apply spatial analysis to qualitative data this research aims to produce maps that inform more resilient futures. In doing so, this research supports solutions for interdisciplinary problems existing at least partially outside the realm of quantitative data. Five maps have been included as final products with the potential to be integrated into FireAdapt follow-up workshops with land managers. Results may be informative for arid systems elsewhere, where novel fire regimes are also emerging or changing rapidly