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Education and Tolerance of Homosexuality in Diverse Islamic Contexts
Get PDFThis study examines the relationship between educational attainment and moral tolerance of homosexuality among Muslims in Algeria, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Turkey. Utilizing human development theory to understand how educational attainment affects social values, the analysis draws on data from over 5,000 respondents from the Pew Research Center\u27s World\u27s Muslims dataset, which includes responses from a nationally representative sample of Muslims in these four countries. Logistic regression models and predicted probabilities are used to explore how educational attainment relates to moral tolerance of homosexuality, adjusting estimates for various alternate explanations through the use of control variables. The findings reveal that the moral tolerance of homosexuality is actually higher among respondents with the lowest levels of education in three of the four countries: Algeria, Malaysia, and Pakistan. In contrast, respondents in Turkey are more likely to be morally tolerant of homosexuality if they have higher levels of educational attainment. These results challenge the universal applicability of modernization theory, showing that educational effects are contingent upon broader political and cultural contexts. This research contributes to understanding how education in Muslim-majority countries can both challenge and reinforce prevailing cultural and political ideologies regarding homosexuality. It underscores the necessity of considering educational content and societal context in formulating educational policies aimed at fostering tolerance and inclusivity
Data for: Permafrost and Structural Controls on Holocene Bedrock Landslide Occurrence in Northern Iceland
No full textRapid, transient, landscape-scale changes associated with deglaciation can condition slopes for failure and trigger bedrock landslides. However, the mechanisms leading to paleo rock slope failures following the last glacial period are challenging to infer because observations of how both landsliding and potential driving factors were distributed in space and time are limited. Here, we map and analyze the spatiotemporal pattern of 676 post-glacial bedrock landslides in north-central Iceland using 2-m resolution digital elevation data generated from optical stereo satellite imagery. Frequency-ratio analysis demonstrates that after controlling for slope, landslides are significantly overrepresented near major Tertiary bedrock structures and at land surface elevations similar to or lower than those of a modeled lower limit to permafrost. Surface roughness analysis of landslide deposits, made possible by the high-resolution topographic data, indicates that peak landslide frequency of at least 0.2 landslides yr-1 in the 5579 km2 study area lagged deglaciation by several thousand years. This timing aligns well with that of rapid permafrost degradation from the Younger Dryas (12.9-11.7 cal ky BP) through the Holocene Thermal Maximum (~10-7 cal ky BP). Landslide frequency has averaged about 0.014 yr-1 since the Holocene Thermal Maximum when climate has generally been cooler and permafrost more extensive. However, present day warming is likely reducing permafrost extent and increasing the potential for bedrock landslides in north-central Iceland, as has already been observed for several recent shallower landslides in regolith
The Carbon Crater: Comparing Anthropogenic Greenhouse Gas Emissions to Historical Planetary Events
Get PDFEquilibrium climate sensitivity modeling relies heavily on paleoclimate records that were affected by meteorite impacts and volcanic explosions. This paper conducts a thought experiment by re-assembling known data and theories to shed new light on anthropogenic carbon waste. Anthropogenic activity, meteorite impacts and volcanic explosions all extract material from the Earth’s crust and deposit it in the atmosphere. This thought experiment tests if the mass of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions from 1851 to 2021 is comparable to the mass of atmospheric emissions from historical planetary events. Approximately 3.60 trillion tons of anthropogenic carbon dioxide equivalents are converted into volume and then transformed into the shape of a meteorite impact structure named the “Carbon Crater.” The 35 km crater (bounded by 34%–68% confidence intervals of 25–45 km) would rank 23rd on the list of known impact structures. The 2.6 km projectile required to create the Crater would be a 10 on the 1–10 Torino hazard scale described as “. . .capable of causing global climatic catastrophe. . .” The estimated re-occurrence interval for a projectile of this size is 5.3 million years. An interval of this time in Earth’s recent history predates homo sapiens. The Crater’s volume is exponentially larger than the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa and ranks as an 8 (“mega-colossal”) on the 0–8 Volcanic Explosivity Index. The thought experiment indicates that the Carbon Crater’s scale is comparable with large historical biospheric events. These results likely confer few direct implications for the study of the paleoclimate in climate modeling but might change conceptual understandings of atmospheric human waste. Additional empirical research is required to understand the potential impact of the Carbon Crater on conceptual change
Training Practitioners for Real-time Product Development Using Generative Artificial Intelligence
Get PDFA workshop to train practitioners in real-time new product development (NPD) using generative artificial intelligence (AI) was conducted. Three teams of graduate students in Engineering and Technology Management (many with work experience as managers and engineers) were given minimalist instructions to develop a product concept and a preliminary marketing plan for a product of their choosing within six hours using ChatGPT, search engines, and other Internet-based tools. The product was to be novel, and the plan was to include customer identification, market analysis, generating personas, and a 15-minute presentation at the end of the workshop. The goal was to \u27inspire a sales force\u27. A panel of judges, which included the authors and an external marketing professional, determined the strengths, weaknesses, and viability of the development efforts of the teams. The results of the workshop validated the utility of AI in NPD for multiple industries. The panel rated the output of the effort of the teams as ‘highly creative’ and potentially viable in the real world. The most significant contribution of the workshop was demonstrating the speed at which product development activity could be performed
Schools Apart: Curricular Stratification Across School Socioeconomic Compositions and Implications for Educational Inequality in the US
Get PDFMotivated by longstanding sociological theories and utilizing the most current, large, and nationally representative data, this dissertation aims to describe and add nuance to our understanding of how the curriculum US youth are exposed to is stratified by the socioeconomic composition of the schools they attend. All three empirical chapters suggest that school SES contributes to substantial differences in school structure, as evidenced by differences in course-taking patterns and how course-taking relates to academic achievement in high school and beyond. The first study suggests that the relationship between curricular intensity in secondary school and postsecondary achievement is variable depending on school SES. Results suggest that the strong positive relationship between curricular intensity and first-year-college-GPA is only evident for youth attending high SES schools, and the inverse might be true for their peers enrolled in low-SES schools. The second study focuses on course-taking in seemingly unrelated subject areas: mathematics and visual and performing arts. Findings suggest that youth at higher-SES schools not only take more arts coursework but that arts coursework uniquely relates to higher math achievement for them. As learning does not occur in subject-silos, the second study documents an element of school structure that might contribute to the enduring relationship between social advantage and educational achievement--i.e., the degree to which the curriculum is holistic. Finally, the third study explores national-level course-taking patterns and whether they are related to the socioeconomic compositions of schools youth attend. Approaching nationally representative transcript data without assumptions about course-taking, this study suggests that youth attending lower-SES schools tend to share more courses in common than their peers at higher-SES schools, and adolescents at higher-SES schools tend to take more advanced coursework. The findings suggest that youth attending high SES schools are more likely to complete coursework that gives them a competitive advantage in college. Collectively, the empirical chapters suggest that depending on school SES, youth in the US attend very different schools and thus learn very different things. These inequalities in course-taking translate into significant constraints on education as an institution of upward social mobility. Rather than acting as an institution of equalization, schools appear to contribute to the reproduction and even intensification of preexisting social stratification
Propagation Modeling of Terahertz Reflections and Reflector Design for MIMO Channel
Get PDFWireless communication has transformed connectivity, enabling seamless access across devices without physical constraints. Terahertz (THz) frequencies, ranging from 100 GHz to 10 THz, promise high-bandwidth channels crucial for applications like IoT and virtual reality. However, deploying THz communication faces challenges due to significant propagation limitations such as high attenuation and environmental absorption. The motivation behind this research is to develop a comprehensive understanding of THz propagation dynamics and utilize reflective surfaces to create multipath environments for an improvement in the capacity performance of MIMO channels.
This research investigates the potential of Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) channels at THz frequencies to overcome these challenges and enhance communication capabilities. The study focuses on measuring, characterizing, and modeling both Line-of-Sight (LoS) and Reflective Line-of-Sight (R-LoS) MIMO channels. Based on these insights, the research also aims to improve MIMO channel performance through innovative reflector designs that create robust multipath environments. By examining various reflector designs around a frequency of 410 GHz, we demonstrate the ability to establish and sustain stable, high-capacity MIMO channels through multiple independent signal reflections. Our static reflective surface (SRS) design incorporates vertically aligned metal strips positioned in front of an aluminum plate, allowing for precise control over reflective elements. This cost-effective solution optimizes reflectors across a wide range of signal paths. The multipath environment created by the SRS design addresses common challenges in both LoS and R-LoS channels, such as channel rank and coverage limitations. Additionally, we have developed a theoretical model for the received signal using our SRS design, achieving strong agreement between predicted and measured capacities. With adjustable design parameters and alignment options, the research identifies optimal SRS configurations that enhance stability while maintaining high channel capacity. This novel approach, combined with the theoretical model, offers cost-efficient reflector solutions for various real-world communication scenarios.
Key outcomes of this research include: The novel incorporation of a standing wave into the propagation model to generate more accurate predictions of received signals in indoor LoS and R-LoS channels. An innovative methodology for reflector design using individual reflective elements to create multipath environments, improving the coverage, stability, and capacity performance of MIMO channels. The development of a theoretical signal model incorporating multipath effects, allowing further exploration of advanced reflector designs to enhance MIMO channels in communication at THz frequencies.
With the above objectives achieved, this dissertation aims to advance THz-based wireless communication systems through innovative signal processing, channel modeling, and reflector designs to overcome existing limitations in signal propagation and channel capacity. By merging theoretical insights with practical advancements, this work contributes to the evolution of telecommunications, enabling faster and more reliable data transfer over THz frequencies. These advancements are crucial for supporting future applications that require unprecedented speed and efficiency
Faculty Senate Monthly Packet November 2024
Get PDFThe November 4, 2024 monthly packet includes the November agenda, appendices, and the Faculty Senate minutes and attachments from the meeting held November 4, 2024
Oregon State Rank Assessment for Nerite Ramshorn (Vorticifex neritoides)
Get PDFOregon state conservation status assessment for nerite ramshorn (Vorticifex neritoides) using NatureServe methodology, 2024
Coordinated Population Forecast for Columbia County, its Urban Growth Boundaries (UGB), and Area Outside UGBs 2024-2074
Get PDFThis report for population forecasts for Columbia County was made in compliance with Oregon House Bill 2253 relating to population forecasts for land use planning. Portland State University Population Research Center is tasked with creating population projections for all Oregon counties except Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington as well as population forecasts for all Urban Growth Boundaries (UGBs), except for the Metro area UGB. These population forecasts are generated using standardized demographic methods with input and feedback from county, city, and other local stakeholders
The Feminist Coven Did It : Nigerian Women\u27s Feminist Leadership and Coalition Against Police Brutality during the 2020 #EndSARS Protests
Get PDFThe 2020 #EndSARS protest—a movement against police brutality and state violence in Nigeria—is an excellent locale for the historical study of African women’s activism and contributions to social movements. Young Nigerian women actively spearheaded this movement. Employing oral history methods, social media, and other primary sources, I place these women at the center of the narratives surrounding the #EndSARS protest. Their exceptional leadership and coordination contributed to the success of the most extensive youth-led protests in Nigeria’s contemporary history. In locating their individual and collective activism, I argue that history provided the roadmap for how they did effective activism since the protesters were not just reenacting age-old strategies of dissent but were also consciously invoking history as they did so. The invocation of history was one strategy for building their feminist coalition, besides hashtag activism and on-the- ground resistance and support. I also argue that the radical consciousness of Nigerian women during the protest impacted the meaning of Nigerian feminism and feminist leadership in movements against state violence. The movement also reflected an Afrofuturistic society, which underscored citizens’ desperation for a better and more just society. Historicizing Nigerian women’s voices contributes to the “making memory” of their lived experiences during that momentous period. By reframing the lens of the #EndSARS protest to feminist leadership, I make important interventions in Black/African feminist literature, feminist theories of leadership, and to scholarship that engages with the long history of women’s activism and mobilizations in Nigeria