This dissertation is composed of three essays that measure the impact of social programs and policies on the well being of their target populations. The first essay entitled "The Wage Impact of Historically Black College and University Attendance" examines the impact of attending a Historically Black College or University on the wages of Blacks attending HBCUs versus other four year colleges or universities using a sample of Blacks from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (1979). The study finds no initial advantage to HBCU attendance for black men, but a 1.4 to 1.6 percentage point higher growth rate in subsequent wages is associated with the attendance of an HBCU as opposed to other four year colleges. This faster growth rate translates in a net discounted HBCU earnings gain of 8.9 to 9.6 percent over a 16 year period following college attendance. The study finds no advantage or disadvantage to HBCU attendance for Black females. The second essay entitled "Transient and Chronic Poverty in the US: The Role of the Food Stamp Program" examines the unique and common determinants of short-term intra-annual transient poverty and chronic poverty, as well as the differential response of each state of poverty to Food Stamp Program (FSP) use. The study employs dynamic expenditure-based poverty measures using quarterly data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey (2001-2004). The major finding is that FSP use reduces transient poverty, but the study finds no significant impact of FSP use on chronic poverty. The common causes of both states of poverty are low human capital, minority status and involuntary unemployment of the household head. Changes in family composition during the year is only associated with higher transient poverty. The third essay entitled "Food Insecurity and the Food Stamp Program" examines the determinants of food insecurity in the US, as well as its response to Food Stamp Program use with data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (1995-1999). The study finds that FSP use reduces household food insecurity, and that the program impact is greater for households that experience more severe insecurity. In addition the study finds that higher risk tolerance as well as a preference for smoking cigarettes increase household food insecurity. / Ph. D.

University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities / Department of History

The purpose of this research is to use semiotic and narrative theory to unpack the layered meanings related to postage stamps and handwritten letters and explore their similarities. The theories of Peirce on icon, index and symbol, provide a systematic framework from which to explore the parallel narratives in a personal collection of postage stamps and letters received between 1996 and 1999. Postage stamps and letters are sent as a unit, allowing their public and private narratives to arrive in parallel. Both the practical and theoretical components of this research explore these narratives, treating letters and postage stamps as both personal and impersonal objects of communication. They are archival objects of national and personal history and of an era that is slowly fading. This research does not reinforce the different modes of communication offered by postage stamps and letters, but rather unpacks and compares, from a personal perspective, their many layers of meaning. / Art History, Visual Arts and Musicology / M.A. (Visual Arts)

Farmers’ markets are venues that can reflect the activity and composition of the hosting community. Within certain guidelines, WIC, FMNP, and SNAP can be utilized at participating farmers’ markets. My study examines how farmers’ markets managers and vendors decide whether to accept food entitlement program coupons, especially comparing the decision-making process between participating and non-participating markets. The influence of community ties and addressing local hunger needs in the decision-making process and the level of cooperation in making that decision are also investigated. Fourteen semi-structured interviews with managers and vendors of eight Midwestern farmers’ markets were conducted. Findings indicate that farmers’ markets with goals to improve local food security and that are collaborative and seek to build consensus, knowledgeable about food entitlement programs while also holding them in positive regard, and exhibit strong interpersonal relationships between market actors and community residents display greater tendencies to accept food entitlement program coupons. / Department of Sociology

Ao abordar as relações entre selos postais e história, a literatura filatélica ocupa-se, fundamentalmente, em situar a origem do moderno mecanismo tarifário dos correios, atendo-se também a outros detalhes técnicos como a evolução dos métodos de impressão e das características gráficas. Quanto ao simbolismo exibido nas estampas, é corrente a idéia segundo a qual os selos narram a História do país emissor por registrarem seus principais personagens, eventos e tradições, avaliação que transcende o meio filatélico e pode ser considerada de senso comum. Esta dissertação adota a perspectiva de análise sugerida pelo historiador britânico Eric Hobsbawn, que considera os selos postais um dos principais suportes materiais de que dispõe o Estado moderno para promover a massificação das tradições nacionais e, como tal, um indício privilegiado para se compreender as estratégias de elaboração da história oficial. Embora coloque o selo postal brasileiro em perspectiva cronológica ampla, para apreender-lhe a trajetória enquanto linguagem, a pesquisa privilegia o contexto em torno da transformação dos Correios em empresa pública pelo governo militar, em 1969. Um dos destacados aspectos da modernização da instituição foi transformação do selo postal brasileiro, cuja emissão foi reestruturada em termos qualitativos e quantitativos durante a década de 70, política complementada pela divulgação e incentivo à prática da filatelia. Nos selos emitidos a partir de então, observa-se a ampliação das matrizes de representação no que diz respeito à historicidade: além do usual registro da História tradicional, passam a compor o índice filatélico outras representações do passado, como a cultura popular e o folclore, além da propaganda das realizações governamentais, que remete ao futuro afinal tornado presente pelo governo militar. / When approaching the relations between mailing stamps and History, the philatelical literature has mainly dealt with pointing out the origins of the post offices modern tariff mechanisms, and has also payed attention to other technical details like the printing methods evolution and the graphic features. Concerning to the symbolism shown in the pictures, it’s usual the idea that the stamps narrate the country’s History, due the fact they register the country’s main characters, events and traditions. This valuation exceeds the philatelical milieu and can be considered as the common sense. This paper adopts the analysis perspective suggested by the British historian Eric Hobsbawn, who considers mailing stamps as one of the main material basis the modern State has to promote the national traditions massification. Therefore, it’s a privileged sign to understand the official History elaboration strategies. Although we place the Brazillian mailing stamps in a broad chronological perspective, to grasp its path as a language, this work privileged the context around the Correios transformation in a public company, by the military government in 1969. One of the emphazided features of the institution modernization was the Brazilian mailing stamps transformation, of which emission was reestructered in qualitatives and quantitatives terms during the 70’s. This policy was complemented by the spreading and incentive to the philatelical practice. On the stamps printed from that moment on, it’s possible to observe the enlargement of the matrices representation concerning to the historicity: beyond the usual register of the traditional History, other representations about the past started to compose the philatelical index, like the popular culture and the folklore; besides the government propaganda showing Brazil as a powerful country, announcing a future that had finally become present.

Many families that experience hunger in the United States rely on Food Assistance Programs to meet their daily nutrition needs. However, these programs do not always meet the needs of these individuals, as has been the case for individuals living under higher than expected levels of poverty in the Great Lakes region of the United States. Using policy feedback theory (PFT), the purpose of this case study was to explore the experiences of individuals from a county in the Great Lakes region of the United States, who depend on the federal Food Assistance Program, with particular attention given to evaluate the effectiveness of distribution mechanisms in helping these individuals meet their food needs. Data were collected through interviews with 11 program clients, 3 program administrators, as well as publicly available agency data. These data were inductively coded and then analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis procedure. Key findings revealed that clients perceived the Food Assistance Program as ineffective in preventing food insecurity without additional programs and resources. The findings also revealed that distribution mechanisms negatively impacted food recipients with limited income, resulting in increased food shortages, requiring recipients to seek additional food programs and resources. These findings also exposed barriers to employment opportunities for recipients, adding to the stress and anxiety experienced from food shortages. Positive social change implications from the findings include providing information to program administrators that can be used to improve the Food Assistance Program, which may in turn improve the lives of those who rely on food assistance programs.

Ao abordar as relações entre selos postais e história, a literatura filatélica ocupa-se, fundamentalmente, em situar a origem do moderno mecanismo tarifário dos correios, atendo-se também a outros detalhes técnicos como a evolução dos métodos de impressão e das características gráficas. Quanto ao simbolismo exibido nas estampas, é corrente a idéia segundo a qual os selos narram a História do país emissor por registrarem seus principais personagens, eventos e tradições, avaliação que transcende o meio filatélico e pode ser considerada de senso comum. Esta dissertação adota a perspectiva de análise sugerida pelo historiador britânico Eric Hobsbawn, que considera os selos postais um dos principais suportes materiais de que dispõe o Estado moderno para promover a massificação das tradições nacionais e, como tal, um indício privilegiado para se compreender as estratégias de elaboração da história oficial. Embora coloque o selo postal brasileiro em perspectiva cronológica ampla, para apreender-lhe a trajetória enquanto linguagem, a pesquisa privilegia o contexto em torno da transformação dos Correios em empresa pública pelo governo militar, em 1969. Um dos destacados aspectos da modernização da instituição foi transformação do selo postal brasileiro, cuja emissão foi reestruturada em termos qualitativos e quantitativos durante a década de 70, política complementada pela divulgação e incentivo à prática da filatelia. Nos selos emitidos a partir de então, observa-se a ampliação das matrizes de representação no que diz respeito à historicidade: além do usual registro da História tradicional, passam a compor o índice filatélico outras representações do passado, como a cultura popular e o folclore, além da propaganda das realizações governamentais, que remete ao futuro afinal tornado presente pelo governo militar. / When approaching the relations between mailing stamps and History, the philatelical literature has mainly dealt with pointing out the origins of the post offices modern tariff mechanisms, and has also payed attention to other technical details like the printing methods evolution and the graphic features. Concerning to the symbolism shown in the pictures, it’s usual the idea that the stamps narrate the country’s History, due the fact they register the country’s main characters, events and traditions. This valuation exceeds the philatelical milieu and can be considered as the common sense. This paper adopts the analysis perspective suggested by the British historian Eric Hobsbawn, who considers mailing stamps as one of the main material basis the modern State has to promote the national traditions massification. Therefore, it’s a privileged sign to understand the official History elaboration strategies. Although we place the Brazillian mailing stamps in a broad chronological perspective, to grasp its path as a language, this work privileged the context around the Correios transformation in a public company, by the military government in 1969. One of the emphazided features of the institution modernization was the Brazilian mailing stamps transformation, of which emission was reestructered in qualitatives and quantitatives terms during the 70’s. This policy was complemented by the spreading and incentive to the philatelical practice. On the stamps printed from that moment on, it’s possible to observe the enlargement of the matrices representation concerning to the historicity: beyond the usual register of the traditional History, other representations about the past started to compose the philatelical index, like the popular culture and the folklore; besides the government propaganda showing Brazil as a powerful country, announcing a future that had finally become present.

Ao abordar as relações entre selos postais e história, a literatura filatélica ocupa-se, fundamentalmente, em situar a origem do moderno mecanismo tarifário dos correios, atendo-se também a outros detalhes técnicos como a evolução dos métodos de impressão e das características gráficas. Quanto ao simbolismo exibido nas estampas, é corrente a idéia segundo a qual os selos narram a História do país emissor por registrarem seus principais personagens, eventos e tradições, avaliação que transcende o meio filatélico e pode ser considerada de senso comum. Esta dissertação adota a perspectiva de análise sugerida pelo historiador britânico Eric Hobsbawn, que considera os selos postais um dos principais suportes materiais de que dispõe o Estado moderno para promover a massificação das tradições nacionais e, como tal, um indício privilegiado para se compreender as estratégias de elaboração da história oficial. Embora coloque o selo postal brasileiro em perspectiva cronológica ampla, para apreender-lhe a trajetória enquanto linguagem, a pesquisa privilegia o contexto em torno da transformação dos Correios em empresa pública pelo governo militar, em 1969. Um dos destacados aspectos da modernização da instituição foi transformação do selo postal brasileiro, cuja emissão foi reestruturada em termos qualitativos e quantitativos durante a década de 70, política complementada pela divulgação e incentivo à prática da filatelia. Nos selos emitidos a partir de então, observa-se a ampliação das matrizes de representação no que diz respeito à historicidade: além do usual registro da História tradicional, passam a compor o índice filatélico outras representações do passado, como a cultura popular e o folclore, além da propaganda das realizações governamentais, que remete ao futuro afinal tornado presente pelo governo militar. / When approaching the relations between mailing stamps and History, the philatelical literature has mainly dealt with pointing out the origins of the post offices modern tariff mechanisms, and has also payed attention to other technical details like the printing methods evolution and the graphic features. Concerning to the symbolism shown in the pictures, it’s usual the idea that the stamps narrate the country’s History, due the fact they register the country’s main characters, events and traditions. This valuation exceeds the philatelical milieu and can be considered as the common sense. This paper adopts the analysis perspective suggested by the British historian Eric Hobsbawn, who considers mailing stamps as one of the main material basis the modern State has to promote the national traditions massification. Therefore, it’s a privileged sign to understand the official History elaboration strategies. Although we place the Brazillian mailing stamps in a broad chronological perspective, to grasp its path as a language, this work privileged the context around the Correios transformation in a public company, by the military government in 1969. One of the emphazided features of the institution modernization was the Brazilian mailing stamps transformation, of which emission was reestructered in qualitatives and quantitatives terms during the 70’s. This policy was complemented by the spreading and incentive to the philatelical practice. On the stamps printed from that moment on, it’s possible to observe the enlargement of the matrices representation concerning to the historicity: beyond the usual register of the traditional History, other representations about the past started to compose the philatelical index, like the popular culture and the folklore; besides the government propaganda showing Brazil as a powerful country, announcing a future that had finally become present.

Many believe eating healthfully is too expensive and therefore opt for less expensive, lower quality foods. There are disputes between research groups and government as to whether nutrition policies should be adjusted. Federal programs have made strides in combating food insecurity through nutrition help and education programs, but many question if the amount of skills in food selection and preparation can compensate for limited incomes. Regardless, the low incomes' diets are inadequate to meet nutritional needs and people are suffering the consequences. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent one can follow the USDA Food Guide Pyramid recommendations while only receiving SNAP benefits. Nine volunteers attempted to limit their food budget to $4.50 a day while maintaining MyPyramid recommendations. This study was a qualitative case study conducted in Southern Illinois in the spring of 2011. This study was descriptive, and the investigator gathered and analyzed the data.

L'objectif de la recherche est l'étude, d’un point de vue typologique, épigraphique, fonctionnel et commercial, des amphores adriatiques découvertes à Rome dans le secteur du Nuovo Mercato Testaccio. Entre 2005 et 2010, ce secteur, tout proche du Mont des Tessons et du port fluvial, a fait l’objet d’une fouille archéologique .L’état plus antique qu’on a fouillé est caractérisé par un espace ouvert, divisé en enclos, des pièces couvertes et des voies de service. A l’intérieur des enclos sont jetés des remblais constitués principalement par des tessons. La particularité réside dans le matériau utilisé pour organiser l’espace et pour la construction: il s’agit d’amphores (729 ca.). Les conteneurs des alignements sont essentiellement produits sur la côte Adriatique de l’Italie (74%): il s’agit surtout d’amphores à vin du début de l’Empire, Dressel 6A. Leur abondance dans les alignements est peut-être imputable au caractère de décharge organisée du site. En effet, en utilisant les données sur les remblais, on peut reconnaître des différences avec les alignements dans les pourcentages d’amphores adriatiques (9-12% du nombre total de fragments). On suppose que les amphores adriatiques ont été choisies pour bâtir les alignements car il s’agit de conteneurs solides, dont on connaissait déjà la firmitas par les sources anciennes. La déchèterie semble commencer à l’époque de Tibère et être oblitérée au IIe s. Les conteneurs adriatiques du Nuovo Mercato représentent le premier lot de cette importance trouvé à Rome en contexte stratigraphique, l’essentiel des découvertes remontant à la fin du XIXe s. (contextes identifiés par H. Dressel et représentés dans CIL XV,2). / The focus of this research is the study of the Adriatic amphorae found at the Nuovo Mercato Testaccio (Roma), with special regard to the morphological features, epigraphic apparatus and commercial aspects and to the reuse of the containers. In proximity to the Monte dei Cocci and to the Tiber harbour (Emporium), the area was excavated between 2005 and 2010. The oldest level of occupation identified is characterised by alignments of transport containers almost complete, associated with fillings of pottery fragments and building materials. The alignments constituted often the true and proper walls, probably realised in multiple orders of piled-up amphorae. The life of this landfill appears to have begun in the Tiberian age, while its definitive obliteration has been dated to the 2nd century. The material conserved in the alignements documented (ca. 729 amphorae) is higly homogenous, composed of 74% of Adriatic containers, above all the early imperial wine amphorae so-called Dressel 6A. The abundance of Dressel 6A in the alignments is due to the organisation of landfill, in virtue of the robustness of these containers, already known by the ancient sources.The fillings reveal in fact any number of discrepancies versus the alignments: the Adriatic amphorae in these levels are between 9% and 12%. Anyway, the Adriatic containers unearthed at the Nuovo Mercato Testaccio represent the most important discovery of this kind of amphorae in Rome, after the finds of the 2nd half of the XIX century at the Castro Pretorio, edited by H. Dressel in CIL XV, 2.