Brazil faces low levels of educational achievement at the tertiary level. Historically, higher education institutions in Brazil are predominately attended by wealthier individuals. Two educational initiatives, Prouni, a scholarship program for private tertiary institutions, and Lei de Cotas 2012, an affirmative action law for public institutions, have been implemented to assist students coming from low income backgrounds. The majority of individuals in low income brackets in Brazil tend to be people of color, so inadvertently these policies may have an effect on racial minorities. This study explores the effect of the aforementioned policies on racial minority groups in higher education by reviewing previous studies and analyzing racial demographic data of higher education institutions, and concludes that the Lei de Cotas is most effective for students from racial minority backgrounds.

African Americans who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) are discriminated against in the African American community. Sociodemographics such as income, education, age, and religion/spirituality have been shown to be associated with sexual prejudice. There is limited research on how African American cultural attitudes influence attitudes towards sexual orientation. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which demographic variables and African American cultural attitudes (measured by the African American Acculturation Scale-Revised; AAAS-R) predict attitudes toward sexual orientation in African American adults (measured by the Attitudes towards Lesbians and Gay Men Scale; ATLG). Social identity theory (SIT) was used to describe how group affiliation influences attitudes. A sample of African Americans who were 18 years or older (n = 236) completed the questionnaires online. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the relative importance of demographics and cultural attitudes in predicting attitudes towards homosexuals and lesbians. The results of the study indicated that religious affiliation and religious beliefs and practices were statistically significant in predicting attitudes towards both homosexual and lesbian individuals. These findings suggest that individuals who identify as Christians and have stronger religious beliefs and practices are more likely to have negative attitudes towards lesbians and gay men. These results lend support to efforts to create programs to educate people about cultural misconceptions of the African American GLBT community and to encourage spiritual leaders to promote efforts support to them.

Since the implementation of the congestion charge in Gothenburg on the first of January 2013, there has been a debate whether or not the congestion charge would harm the retail business. This concerns, in particular the retail stores located in the charging zone. The general aim of this study was to investigate attitudes and consumer behavior related to the recently introduced congestion charge in Gothenburg and to illustrate the possible impact the congestion charge may have had on retail business performance. In order to do this we conducted a questionnaire survey of visitors to Bäckebol shopping center (n=335). The questionnaire consisted of 24 questions and the response rate was 76 %. In addition, we performed two extensive interviews with key representatives for the local retail business in order to add context and background to the questionnaire findings.  In the questionnaire, consumer behavior was investigated by questions on time of visit, destination, and means of transport. In the analyses we assessed associations between changes in consumer behavior, acceptance and demographic factors. The results of this study showed a low level of acceptance of the congestion charge in the study population. Furthermore, we found a high proportion of subjects reporting a behavioral change related to the introduction of the congestion charge. This was associated to but not explained by a low level of acceptance. It was also related to residency outside the inner parts of Gothenburg.  In this way our results support the theory of an association between behavioral change, degree of acceptance as well as demographic factors. However, in a comparison of certain aspects of behavioral change to a previous study conducted prior to the introduction of the congestion charge we found no difference. It is likely that behavioral changes related to the congestion charge have taken place but they may have been exaggerated in the questionnaire responses. The interviews implied that the congestion charge has had an effect on business performance in Gothenburg but in this investigation we have not been able to find firm proof of this. We can conclude that there appears to be a low acceptance of the congestion charge in particular in suburban areas of Gothenburg and this is most likely associated with a consumer behavioral change.  For further research it would be interesting to obtain information on business performance and customer frequencies before and after the introduction of the congestion charge. In addition it would be of interest to investigate in greater detail the association between acceptance and behavioral change and if retail stores that handle bulky goods are more likely to be affected by a congestion charges than other businesses.

Though Costa Rica has suffered numerous bouts of deforestation to its valuable tropical rainforest area, especially in the 1970s, it has become a leader in its efforts to regenerate and restore its rainforest. However, studies and protocols for the assessment of forest regeneration are urgently required. Research has shown that the percentage of light penetrating the canopy floor, or light fraction, is a good indicator of rainforest maturity. In this study, digital rectilinear photography and a global positioning system receiver were used to survey the Firestone Reserve inCosta Rica in order to measure the light fraction differences between primary/riparian forest, bamboo plantation, secondary hardwood plantation, and natural secondary regrowth. The images were used to calculate light fractions with the software program ImageJ. Using ArcGIS, a kernel density plot was created, along with a map organizing the light fractions in the vegetation types. Significant differences in light fraction were found between bamboo and all other vegetation types, between secondary natural regrowth and secondary hardwood plantation, and between secondary natural regrowth and primary/riparian forest. No significance was noted between primary/riparian and secondary hardwood plantation, or between primary/riparian and secondary forest. Inaccuracies of the study could be due to the high amount of variance, low sample size, or high levels of sunlight that distort the photographs. Nevertheless, the study provided useful information concerning the differences between vegetation types and has implications towards regrowth and recovery of the rainforest.

Recent developments in video technology have opened up the possibility for people to watch movies in many different ways. For example one person may use a kinetoscope. Others may go to cinemas or join in a movie festival, yet others use a DVD player, watch them on the internet or even on mobile devices. Do movie fans use all or a number of these ways or just pick one of them? How do they select the way they watch the movies? What factors influence them in this selection? These are the important questions which this research addresses. This research utilises product attributes to collect the data from 531 respondents surveyed in Kaohsiung City and analysed by statistics using quantitative empirical methods. It finds that consumers¡¦ preferences for the product attributes and for the movie seeing are related to their lifestyles and demographic variables, and there is a level of significance in these factors: self-benefit, cheerful mind, efficiency, level of socialisation, and economics, in the product attribute for each consumer cluster based on lifestyle. In the preference of product usage, there is the level of significance in these factors: ¡§cinema, and legal and illegal download from the internet¡¨. However, there is no level of significance in these factors: ¡§cable TV, video and disk rent, video and disk purchase, and illegal copy purchase¡¨. Further, in product attribute related to demographic statistical variables, there is separately a level of significance in these factors: gender, education background, marriage, children-raising, and career, in self-benefit, cheerful mind, efficiency, and level of socialisation. And in the relationship of the preference of product usage and demographic statistical variables, there is a significant correlation between most demographic statistical variables and certain preferences of product usage. Keywords: Product Attribute, Preference of Usage, Movie Viewing Products, Lifestyle, Demographics.

Abstract Sickle cell disease is the most common genetic disorder in the United States. Approximately 90% of the hospitalizations in this patient population occur due to the most common complication, pain crises. Prevention of these crises is therefore essential and requires the patient to assume an active role in his or her disease management. Studies suggest that further research is needed to examine the self-care management process and to identify factors influencing self-care behaviors. The relationships among these factors must be clearly defined before interventions to improve self-care management can be determined. The aims of the study were threefold. The first aim was to evaluate the relationships among psychosocial variables (SCD self-efficacy and social support) and socio-demographic variables (age, gender, education, employment status, income, and living situation) in understanding individual differences in self-care management variables (perceived self-care ability and self-care actions). It was hypothesized that higher SCD self-efficacy, greater social support, being employed, living with family or friends, increased age, more years of education, higher income, and being male are each associated with having higher perceived self-care ability and more frequent self-care actions. The second aim was to evaluate the relationships among psychosocial variables (SCD self-efficacy and social support), socio-demographic variables (age, gender, education, employment status, income, and living situation), and self-care management variables (perceived self-care ability and self-care actions) in understanding hospital visits for crises. It was hypothesized that higher perceived self-care ability and more frequent self-care actions are associated with fewer hospital visits for crises. The third aim was to evaluate the mediational role of perceived self-care ability and self-care actions in the relationships among psychosocial variables (SCD self-efficacy and social support), socio-demographic variables (age, gender, education, employment status, income, and living situation), and the number of hospital visits for crises. It was hypothesized that SCD self-efficacy, social support, and the socio-demographic variables have both a direct and an indirect relationship with the number of hospital visits for crises. In 103 young Black adults (ages 18-30) with sickle cell disease (SCD), an exploratory , correlational study was conducted, via secondary analysis of data, to examine the relationships among SCD self-efficacy, social support, socio-demographic variables, self-care management (self-care ability and self-care actions), and the number of hospital visits for crises. Bivariate correlations and regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the relationships among the variables and to examine the mediational role of self-care management. Sickle cell disease self-efficacy, social support, years of education, and income were significantly related to perceived self-care ability and self-care actions. Social support accounted for the majority of the variance in each self-care management variable. The hypothesis that higher SCD self-efficacy and greater social support are associated with higher perceived self-care ability and more frequent self-care actions was supported. Education was also associated with higher perceived self-care ability and self-care actions as hypothesized. The overall model with SCD self-efficacy, social support, years of education, income, perceived self-care ability, and self-care actions was not significant in predicting the number of hospital visits for crises. There were no significant associations noted among age, annual household income, living situation, employment status, and the self-care management variables. The hypothesis that higher perceived self-care ability and more frequent self-care actions are associated with fewer hospital visits for crises was not supported. Further, there was no adequate evidence to support a direct relationship between SCD self-efficacy, social support, years of education, and the number of hospital visits for crises. The indirect relationship, through self-care management, among the variables was also non-significant. There was however a significant direct relationship noted between income and the number of hospital visits for crises. The outcomes of the study may be important for clinical care, patient education, and health outcomes in the SCD population. Findings may be used to conduct larger confirmatory studies and to develop interventions that may be used to supplement therapy in the clinical setting and to enhance patient self-care management at home. Additional studies are needed, however, to clarify what additional variables may affect the number of hospital visits for crises and to identify specific pain prevention and management strategies used by SCD patients.

This report explores the long-term demographic changes occurring near Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) stations. The study area chosen to employ the shift share method consists of two segments of DART stations along the Red Line in Dallas, Texas. The downtown DART study area consists of census tracts surrounding light rail stations: Cedars, Convention Center, Union Station, West End, Akard, St. Paul, and Pearl, and the DART suburban study area consists of census tracts around the following stations: City Place, Mockingbird Station, Lovers Lane, Park Lane, Walnut Hill, Forest Lane, and LBJ/Central. Using the shift share method with demographic data obtained through the US Census Bureau from 1990 and 2005-2009 American Community Survey estimates, this analysis illustrates demographic changes over time as a result of light rail transit investments. The results indicate that demographic characteristics of residents have changed considerably since the introduction of light rail in Dallas. Although the growth trends in the DART neighborhoods are comparable to the growth trends of the city, the DART census tracts on average have experienced greater increases in population, attracted an influx of highly educated residents with higher household incomes, and experienced significant increases in high-density development surrounding transit stations. For the most part, growth has been stronger locally than on a citywide level, and these trends have occurred most noticeably in the downtown DART neighborhoods, where transit and financial measures have sparked a development boom in which total population and housing units have grown by the hundredth and even thousandth percentile. Additionally, these demographic changes create unintended consequences that affect people of varying socio-economic statuses. Although the shift of highly educated, wealthier individuals in neighborhoods creates a greater social mix among residents, lower-income residents of these transit neighborhoods quickly get priced out of their neighborhoods. / text

African Americans who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) are discriminated against in the African American community. Sociodemographics such as income, education, age, and religion/spirituality have been shown to be associated with sexual prejudice. There is limited research on how African American cultural attitudes influence attitudes towards sexual orientation. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which demographic variables and African American cultural attitudes (measured by the African American Acculturation Scale-Revised; AAAS-R) predict attitudes toward sexual orientation in African American adults (measured by the Attitudes towards Lesbians and Gay Men Scale; ATLG). Social identity theory (SIT) was used to describe how group affiliation influences attitudes. A sample of African Americans who were 18 years or older (n = 236) completed the questionnaires online. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the relative importance of demographics and cultural attitudes in predicting attitudes towards homosexuals and lesbians. The results of the study indicated that religious affiliation and religious beliefs and practices were statistically significant in predicting attitudes towards both homosexual and lesbian individuals. These findings suggest that individuals who identify as Christians and have stronger religious beliefs and practices are more likely to have negative attitudes towards lesbians and gay men. These results lend support to efforts to create programs to educate people about cultural misconceptions of the African American GLBT community and to encourage spiritual leaders to promote efforts support to them.

As the nation’s schools continue to increase in diversity, teachers are faced with numerous challenges regarding how to meet the needs and strengths of diverse student populations. In addition, small, rural schools tend not only to lack in resources, but may not be adequately prepared to understand student backgrounds, unable to support diverse learners' social and cultural well-being, especially those consisting of a homogenous, Caucasian staff. This qualitative case study examined one small, rural school’s response to a changing demographic, particularly in its Latino student population. Specific attention was given to teachers' attitudes, views, and perceptions regarding their Latino student learners. Faculty members' interviews served as the primary data collection method coupled with an examination of current school documents and notes from a researcher's journal. The three data collection methods provided insight into the research questions: 1) how does a small, rural school respond to its changing demographic, particularly in its Latino student population?; and 2) What are the views, perceptions, and attitudes of staff members regarding the school's Latino student population? The major findings suggest that the school displayed evidence of increased support in The major findings suggest that the school displayed evidence of increased support in resources are still necessary to effectively meet the needs and strengths of diverse learners within the school. At times, the evidence revealed teachers not taking responsibility of diverse learners' needs and strengths, placing blame on outside factors. Additionally, faculty members offered many examples of students' needs, but had difficulty identifying students' strengths. Staff members held narrowed views of what inhibited student learning and did not possess a thorough understanding of culturally responsive teaching practices. Also, teachers' and administrators' views varied from those they perceived of their colleagues; and lastly, generalizations latent with pity were evident in some responses. The results of the research contribute to the contemporary literature regarding teacher belief systems regarding diverse learners, how they perceive students of color, and how understanding these perceptions might help educators devise practices that will more successfully meet diverse learners' needs and strengths. Current research lacks in teacher perspectives; this research intends to add to the existing dialogue. / text

This study examines the impact of the municipality level characteristics on the average Math achievement of students in third year of lower secondary schools in Mexico. Using data from different Mexican and international sources and multi-level regression models the present work shows that municipality characteristics provide additional explanation of the unexplained variability in educational achievement controlling for school-level factors and even without accounting for student characteristics. Although school factors are highly correlated with municipality’s characteristics, the present study finds that unobservable characteristics of the municipality are playing an important role in Mexican students’ achievement which goes beyond the possible impact that school factors have on achievement. / text