"A study of the drop-outs in the Pelham, Georgia schools was planned, therefore, to answer the question: "What are the principal factors which account for drop-outs in the Pelham schools?" Furthermore, it was felt that these reasons might reveal faults in the school program which could be remedied. Perhaps something could be done to adjust the school program to the needs of youngsters whose names, otherwise, might be in our withdrawal files. If the school is to succeed in its purpose of training for democracy, it must plan a curriculum which will have holding power"--Introduction. / "August, 1955." / Typescript. / "Submitted to the Graduate Council of Florida State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science." / Advisor: Dwight L. Burton, Professor Directing Paper. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 45-46).

PhD Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 2009. / HIV/AIDS was discovered almost a quarter of a century ago and has so far claimed the lives of more than 25 million people worldwide. Developing countries remain disproportionately affected, with sub-Saharan Africa contributing more than two-thirds of infections globally. Sexual transmission is the primary route of HIV/AIDS acquisition, and women bear the greatest burden of this pandemic. We are now at a stage where biotechnological advances are needed that can either cure HIV/AIDS, stimulate the immune system to produce anti-HIV-antibodies by vaccination, or prevent HIV infections. One of these advances has been the development of various microbicides. However, a lack of effective drug delivery systems for these agents has remained as a rate-limiting step towards successful HIV prevention. In an attempt to overcome this problem, this study aimed at designing and developing a novel intravaginal bioadhesive polymeric device (IBPD) as a delivery system to effectively deliver a microbicide {polystyrene sulfonate (PSS)} and antiretroviral (ARV) {3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT)} combination to the vagina. The development of a successful intravaginal microbicidal drug delivery system requires the design of a formulation to deliver the microbicide-ARV combination in a safe, effective, and consistent manner. The first step therefore was to undertake extensive preliminary screening studies on various polymeric materials using a one variable at a time (OVAT) approach to find suitable polymers for developing an IBPD. Initially 18 biodegradable and biocompatible polymers were employed to produce 62 formulations that were further screened through the OVAT approach to result in 15 lead formulations. Two major concerns of this study were the attainment of satisfactory residence time of the IBPD in the vagina as well as the ability of the IBPD to contain and release the microbicide-ARV in a controlled manner. Therefore, optimization of the IBPD was based on these two requirements for which proper matrix integrity was a pre-requisite. Artificial neural networks (ANNs), a computational technique that is able to simulate the neurological processing ability of the human brain through mathematical modeling, was employed for optimization. The ANN approach confirmed that 5 of the 18 studied polymers could be suitable for the development of an optimized IBPD. To finally attain good vaginal retention for the developed delivery system, extensive bioadhesivity testing was undertaken on the optimized device. Thorough in vitro and ex vivo bioadhesivity analysis was conducted using physicomechanics and computational structural modeling. Allyl penta erythritolcrosslinked poly acrylic acid (APE-PAA) appeared to contribute most to the bioadhesivity. Apart from being employed as a matrix component, PAA was further used as a coating agent to achieve extended bioadhesivity within the posterior fornix of the vagina. Since prolonged release and suitable permeation of the microbicide-ARV across the vaginal tissue was a critical requirement of this study, the device was designed to provide a controlled and prolonged drug release. Prolonged release for up to 72 days was achieved. Furthermore, the design was constructed to ensure that the released drug could permeate into the vaginal tissue and be retained substantially. This was determined by measuring drug flux through ex-vivo permeation studies using freshly excised pig vaginal tissue in a Franz Diffusion Cell (FDC) apparatus. The ultimate aim of the study was to have the IBPD well accommodated in the vagina for successful prevention of STIs and HIV infection. Achievement of this aim was ensured by undertaking extensive in vivo studies in Large White pig model. The IBPDs were inserted under anaesthesia into the posterior fornix of the vagina, using a novel applicator. To detect the retention of the IBPDs and determine their sequential biodegradation pattern in the vagina, X-ray imaging was employed, using radio-opaque Barium Sulphate (BaSO4). To demonstrate that the developed drug delivery system acted locally and was only minimally absorbed systemically, blood samples were taken from the jugular vein of each pig at pre-determined time intervals and subjected to UPLC analysis. The drug content in the vaginal tissue at the end of the study was also determined. Histopathological evaluation was carried out on vaginal epithelium to access the potential for toxicity of the IBPDs. The drug content analysis revealed that greater amounts of AZT and PSS were retained in the vaginal tissue with relatively small quantities (AZT:17%; PSS:13%) crossing into the systemic circulation. The results from the toxicity studies showed that the IBPDs were safe for use. This suggests that the developed drug delivery system (the IBPD) may be suitable for application in the prevention of STIs and HIV infections.

Bullying in schools has been an issue that has affected students since the 1970’s (Tsiantis et al., 2013). There are interventions that can help prevent bullying within the classroom such as the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, and the KiVa Bullying Prevention Program. The purpose of this study is to survey teachers about their knowledge of bullying and how to prevent it as well as how they feel bullying affects the students they work with and what interventions they have tried to help prevent bullying. Survey research was used to conduct this study. Surveys were sent to 25 teachers at an elementary school. 9 teachers responded to the survey. The teachers included both general education and special education who teach grades K-6. Teachers who were familiar with intervention strategies were asked to explain what interventions they have tried. A feelings dry erase board where a student could rate the intensity of their feelings and also explain on the board was one strategy used. Cool down pass and sand timers to complete task given, visual checklist on desk for procedures, and preferential seating were among other strategies used in the classroom. This study emphasizes the need for teacher resources to help them prevent bullying in their classroom. Bullying affects student development in all areas, which is why it was important to the researcher to investigate this topic and provide a teacher handbook that includes lots of resources for teachers to utilize.

This article examines the effectiveness of the African Union (AU) Continental Early Warning System (CEWS) in its role in the prevention of conflict in Africa stemming particularly from unconstitutional changes of government and elections. In exploring this, regard is paid to the following conflict case studies: Kenya (2007), Guinea Bissau (2012) and Burundi (2015). In assessing the effectiveness of the CEWS, the article explores its operations and how well it is able to gather holistic early warning information in relation to conflicts before they emerge, liaising with Regional Economic Communities and academic institutions, think tanks and other entities. It also looks at how well the CEWS is able to swiftly relay the said early warning information to critical decision making bodies within the African Peace and Security Architecture such as the AU Peace and Security Council as well as the Chairperson of the AU Commission to prevent the conflict from emerging. / Mini Dissertation (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa))--University of Pretoria, 2021. / NRF / Centre for Human Rights / LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa) / Unrestricted

A dissertation submitted to the FACULTY OF ARTS in partial fulfillment of the requirements for MASTERS DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK (Community work) in the Department of Social Work at the University of Zululand, 2001. / Poverty is seen as the phenomenon that is typical of certain countries, areas and group of people who posses specific traits and labels that contribute to their condition of being poor. In South Africa poverty is primarily a feature of the previously disadvantaged population. Black South Africans who are the majority, are the most vulnerable group that is affected by poverty. The extent of poverty is significant in certain geographic areas like rural areas, informal settlement and in the farms. There are various factors that contributed to the legacy of poverty and these include colonialism, apartheid governance, racism, sexism and discrimination.

Although studies examining sexual assault among college students are vast, the literature is somewhat lacking in discussions of contextualized sexual assault predictors and their relationship with sexual assault prevention. The purpose of this study is to examine whether demographic factors, contextual factors, and behavioral factors effect sexual victimization on college campuses. In this examination, I hope to show that the presence of these factors may be related to sexual victimization; however their existence does not necessitate the use of victim blame. By reviewing sexual assault prevention programming on college and university campuses across the United States, I provide alternate explanations and possible solutions to the sexual victimization of students in higher education. This study used data from the American College Health Association Fall 2011 survey. In addition, a comparison is made to these data from an Executive Summary for Mississippi State University from the Spring 2013 ACHA survey period.

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The study is grounded in the concept of “Start where the people are” (Nyswander, 1956) which suggests that effective health campaigns that promote prevention strategies to enhance the quality of life for those targeted must be rooted in the prevalent cultural practices and religious values of the receivers of the slogans, themes, and taglines. Health campaigns that superimpose the values of the outsiders promoted as universalized solutions have limited effectiveness. Sub-Saharan Africa has only 1.3 billion people out of an estimated eight billion of which China and India each recording above two billion, cumulatively accounting for more than half of the world population. Yet sub-Saharan Africa is the epicenter of HIV infections with more than 68% (avert.org), or nearly 26 million out of almost 38 million people living with HIV, globally. This scenario demands that global citizens should foster effective collaborations to end human suffering. Among the ten nations in the world hardest hit by HIV, seven of them are in the southern African region where Botswana, in position three at 18.6% is trailing her next-door neighbors, Lesotho (20.9%) and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) which leads the pack with 27.9% (UNAIDS Report 2022). This study, therefore, focuses on children and adolescents between 15 and 24 in Botswana. According to a surveillance report (Botswana AIDS Impact Survey 2021) covering the period from March to August, adolescents and youths in Botswana are a source of concern. The report puts the national prevalence at 20.8% or 329,000 persons of the reproductive population (15-49 ages) are living with HIV. This sobering picture is despite the free availability of treatment drugs at no cost since 2002, when Botswana became the first African nation to roll out antiretroviral treatment (HAART interchangeably called ARVs) that was adapted as Masa – ‘a ray of hope of a new dawn’ in 2002. Further, the continued increase in new HIV infections among people of ages 15 to 24 since 2010 is recorded amid major prevention campaigns sponsored through global health partnerships, translating into billions of U S dollars. Numerous HIV prevention strategies developed in the West using empirical data and technology include condom use, antiretroviral regimens known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and treatment as prevention popularized as undetectable equals untransmissible (U = U). Social media channels like Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, and Instagram are awash with these HIV prevention strategies, and the adolescent population of Botswana consumes information about everything, including these HIV prevention campaigns. These mentioned strategies seem to provide effective barriers against the intrusion of HIV in the “key populations,” a United Nations preferred term to refer to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intravenous drug users (LGBTQI) communities in the Western nations. However, these strategies require major adjustments when launched in sub-Saharan Africa, this study’s results show, or they are the right message targeted to the wrong audience, mainly because of a lack of cultural representation in the nuanced taglines, headlines, slogans, and themes. The study suggests that for HIV to be eliminated, participatory research and co-learning where Western science and technology on one hand, and African indigenous knowledge, on the other hand, can fuse in the design of strategies should be prioritized as an emergency.

yes / The UK Government welcomes the findings and recommendations of the Evaluation of the Conflict Prevention Pools recently completed by Bradford University at the Government's request. A thorough evaluation of the Pools' unique approach was essential in order to ensure that, two years after their inception, the Pools not only functioned effectively, but actively added value to Departments¿ individual contributions. In this context, the finding that the progress achieved through the Pools justifies their continuation is particularly important. This document responds to the Evaluation's other key findings and recommendations.