This was a quantitative-descriptive study which utilized survey research techniques to examine reports of labor market participation and participation in drug trafficking by incarcerated African-American males from urban enclaves. A stratified sample of 100 was selected from among 678 incarcerated African-American males, who had been arrested for alleged drug trafficking. From the response pattern of those surveyed, Measures of Central Tendency, Measures of Variability, and Frequency Analysis were utilized for statistical procedures. This study provided a glimpse into the development and socialization of a generation of African-American males who made an initial decision to participate in irregular (illegal) economic activities. Data obtained from respondents provided information on how individuals respond to extremely powerful pressures which exist in their environment. The most prominent of these pressures is the attractiveness of possibly earning high incomes by participating in the irregular (illegal) economic activity of drug trafficking. The possibility of earning a high income from drug trafficking was juxtaposed with the reality that participation could lead to serious injury, death, arrest and incarceration. Nevertheless, many African-American males weighed the advantages and disadvantages of participation in drug trafficking activities, and elected to participate. Preliminary findings of this study identified some of the factors which may influence many young African American males to forego participation in educational systems which would provide some skills, allowing them to participate in legitimate employment enterprises. One factor of influence which was identified is the relatively low self-esteem expressed by some respondents. Another factor of influence was the perception that society has targeted African-Americans, in general, as failures. These findings have implications for social work in the areas of counseling and supporting an increasing number of young African-American women who will be forced to raise children without the presence of fathers; increases of criminal and mental health problems in certain age cohorts; development of even greater levels of anomie by African-American males; and development of a range of support services for families which have males incarcerated with long sentences.

A quantitative, causal-comparative study between single gender and traditional mixed gender schools was conducted to examine how single gender schooling affected the academic achievement of African American males in a high-poverty urban community. This study examined the differences in TSI and EOC scores between African American males who attended a single gender male high school and a traditionally mixed gender high school serving students in the same community in Fort Worth, Texas. A two sample t-test was used to compare the STAAR and TSI scores of the two groups of African American males. Microsoft Excel was used to collect the descriptive statistical data and analysis was conducted in SPSS version 25.0 for Windows. A detailed description of the participants, the research design that was used in the study, a description of instruments that was used to analyze the data, research problem, research questions on which the study was based, and a description of data analysis methods that was used. This quantitative research compared the STAAR and TSI scores in language arts, math, and reading. The findings of study indicate the single-gender school model impacts the academic achievement of African American males in a particular community in Fort Worth, Texas. The single-gender school had 100% of the African American males in its first graduating class during the 2017-2018 school year were accepted into college.

As abelhas sem ferrão exercem importante papel ecológico como polinizadores de muitas espécies vegetais das regiões tropicais e tem significativo potencial para uso na polinização de culturas agrícolas. Contudo, com a contínua degradação de habitats, as populações de inúmeras espécies tem se tornado cada vez menores e separadas umas das outras por grandes distâncias. A criação de espécies de abelhas é um componente essencial para a conservação da biodiversidade, além de uma alternativa de fonte de renda. Para tanto, esforços de conservação e programas de criação em escala comercial requerem uma combinação de fatores, como o conhecimento biológico mais amplo, principalmente os relacionados à produção de sexuados e à diversidade genética necessária para manter a viabilidade de pequenas populações destas abelhas. Nesse contexto, os principais objetivos desta tese foram avaliar a variabilidade genética em populações manejadas, sob condições de isolamento genético ou não, e a produção de machos e rainhas nessas populações e o papel na reprodução. Para isso estudamos duas populações de Melipona scutellaris mantidas em regiões geográficas distintas, uma no município de Igarassu (PE; 7°50S 34°54W), onde a espécie ocorre naturalmente e outra no município de São Simão (SP; 21°26 47°34W), onde a população foi iniciada com duas colônias e criada por mais de 10 anos, quando chegou, a partir de sucessivas multiplicações, a 55 ninhos. Assim, embora a população de S. Simão tivesse maior redução na diversidade alélica e maior frequência de machos diplóides, quando comparada à mantida em Igarassu, ela foi criada com sucesso por um extenso período (ca. 10 anos). Provavelmente o baixo número de alelos sexuais em S. Simão, e a conseqüente produção de machos diplóides, foi a principal explicação para a freqüência significativamente maior de sexuados criados nessa população. Como contraponto à alta produção de machos diplóides, as substituições das rainhas-mãe foram mais frequentes e as colônias produziram mais rainhas. Além disso, a alta produção de machos e rainhas também pode ser entendida em termos de benefícios reprodutivos individuais. Tanto as rainhas fisogástricas como as operárias poedeiras foram responsáveis pela maternidade de machos haplóides. Contudo, 80% dos machos filhos de operárias foram produzidos por operárias filhas da rainha-mãe substituída, indicando que essas operárias especiais tem sobrevida maior que as demais e parasitam reprodutivamente a força de trabalho da geração seguinte, que são menos relacionadas a elas. Quanto à super-produção de rainhas, detectou-se que 25% das colônias órfãs, após a perda da rainha-mãe, eram invadidas por rainhas que foram produzidas e vieram de colônias próximas. Nessas colônias não-natais, elas iniciaram suas atividades de postura. Este importante resultado muda as bases para melhoramento genético destas abelhas estabelecidas até o momento. Outro estudo relacionado à alta produção de rainhas foi realizado em colônia poligínica de M. quadrifasciata, em que oito rainhas fisogástricas co-existiam. Ao contrário da hipótese de que alguma das rainhas poderia ter vindo de outro ninho, todas eram irmãs completas. Isto sugere novas estratégias reprodutivas ainda desconhecidas para as abelhas do gênero Melipona. / Stingless bees play an important ecological role as pollinators of many wild plant species in the tropics and have significant potential for the pollination of agricultural crops. However, as a consequence of habit degradation, populations of a number of bee species have became increasingly small and separated from one another by large distances. Thus, stingless beekeeping is an essential component of biodiversity conservation, as well as a profitable business. Therefore, conservation efforts and breeding programme on a large scale require a combination of factors, including a broader biological knowledge, especially those related to production of sexuals and to the genetic diversity needed to maintain the viability of small population. In this context, the main goals were to evaluate the genetic variability in managed populations under or not genetic isolation and the production of males and queens. Two Melipona scutellaris populations were studied and they were kept in different geographic regions, one in Igarassu (PE; 7°50\'S 34°54\'W), in the species natural area of occurrence, and the other in São Simão (SP; 21°26 47°34W), where the population was started from only two foundress colonies and which after a breeding programme of ten years increased to about 55. Despite a great reduction in the number of alleles and an increased frequency of diploid males in the S. Simão population, it could be successfully bred and maintained for a prolonged period (ca. 10 years). Probably the low number of sex alleles in S. Simão population, leading to production of diploid males, was the main reason for the highest level of sexual production. To counter-balance the high production of diploid males, the replacement of mother queen was more frequent leading to higher levels of queen production by the colonies. Furthermore, the high production of males and queens can also be explained by the individual fitness benefits. Queen and reproductive workers were haploid males mothers. However, 80% of the workers sons had genotypes that were compatible with them being the sons of workers that were the offspring of a superseded queen, indicating that these workers greatly outlive all other workers and reproductively parasitize the next-generation workforce, that are less related individuals. Related to queen overproduction, 25% of all queenless colonies were invaded by unrelated queens that fly in from unrelated hives nearby. In these non-natal colonies, the alien queens started their egg laying activities. Another study related to the high queen production was conducted in a polygyne colony of M. quadrifasciata, where eight physogastric queens coexisted. Contrary to the hypothesis that some of these queens could be an alien queen, it was confirmed that they were full-sisters. This suggests new reproductive strategies that are unknown for Melipona bees.

A literatura aponta que casos de transtornos alimentares em homens têm uma menor incidência do que em mulheres e que, até os anos 80, questões relacionadas à imagem corporal eram vistas como uma preocupação feminina, porém estudos recentes demonstram que os homens também estão sofrendo com preocupações relativas à corporeidade e isso se reflete no comportamento alimentar, na prática de exercícios físicos e na adesão às dietas. Apesar disso, quadros clínicos de homens com anorexia e/ou bulimia nervosas ainda são pouco conhecidos e apresentam uma enorme complexidade diagnóstica. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o modo singular como portadores de anorexia e/ou bulimia nervosas vivenciam o corpo e a imagem corporal e como os acompanhantes/familiares e os profissionais de saúde percebem a problemática desses rapazes em relação à corporeidade, visando compreender essa singularidade e qual a sua influência na evolução desses transtornos alimentares e no tratamento. Trata-se de uma pesquisa com abordagem qualitativa, priorizando um enfoque exploratório, conduzida segundo o método de estudo de caso. O estudo compreende três casos e a população do universo de cada caso é composta por: paciente, seus respectivos acompanhantes/familiares (que o acompanharam durante tratamento) e profissionais de saúde responsáveis diretos pela assistência em cada caso (psicólogo, nutricionista, médico nutrólogo e psiquiatra). O contexto da investigação é de um serviço especializado na assistência em transtornos alimentares. Para a coleta de dados a pesquisadora utilizou três fontes: (1) consulta aos prontuários dos participantes (pacientes), visando obter informações clínicas que complementarão as informações obtidas com os profissionais; (2) entrevistas individuais semi-estruturadas com os participantes (pacientes, acompanhantes e profissionais de saúde) e (3) diário de campo. Primeiramente foi realizada análise de cada caso separadamente, as entrevistas foram submetidas à análise de conteúdo na modalidade temática, o que proporcionou conhecer como profissionais de saúde e familiares percebem a forma com que o paciente vivencia sua corporeidade, bem como a ótica do próprio paciente. Em seguida, o material coligido a partir das entrevistas, prontuário e diário de campo foi triangulado e submetido à interpretação, seguindo as proposições da teoria psicanalítica, inspirando-se principalmente no trabalho de Winnicott. Os resultados da análise dos casos sugeriram que estes rapazes não foram capazes de lidar com emoções primitivas e consequentemente, não foram capazes de desenvolver a capacidade de pensá-las e elaborá-las, expandindo essas emoções impensáveis para o corpo. Dessa forma, conclui-se que esses rapazes usam o corpo como uma fortaleza que os protege da vivência de sentimentos tão angustiantes, como invasão, desamparo e solidão. (FAPESP). / Literature shows that cases of males with eating disorders are in less incidence than females and that until the eighties issues related to body and body image were seen as a female concern. However, current studies present that males are also suffering due to worries regarding corporeity and it reflects on the eating habits, on the practice of physical exercises and on diet habits. In spite of it, clinical cases of males who develop anorexia and/or bulimia nervosa still are scarcely known and have an enormous diagnostic complexity. The aim of this study was to investigate the singular way of how males with eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa) experience body and body image and how family and health professionals perceive the troubles of these males with regards to their corporeity, intending to understand this singularity and its influence in the development of an eating disorder and in the treatment. It is a qualitative, exploratory research, carried out according to the case study methodology. This study comprehends 3 cases and the population of each case is composed by: patient and his respective family (who have followed the patient throughout the illness and treatment) and health professionals (responsible for the assistance to the patient: nutritionist, psychologist, psychiatrist, nutrologist). It was carried out in the eating disorders service of the Hospital das Clínicas da FMRP-USP (Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto - Universidade de São Paulo - USP). The data was collected from 3 sources: (1) consultation to the medical reports of the patients, in order to obtain clinical and socio - demographic information, (2) individual interview with the participants (patients, family and professionals), (3) diary (where I wrote feelings and impressions I had throughout the research process and interviews). Firstly each case was analyzed separately; the interviews were transcribed literarily and submitted for theme-based content analysis. After that, the data collected from the interviews, medical reports and diary were interpreted mainly according to the psychoanalytic approach of Winnicott. The results of the analysis of the cases suggested that these males were not able to deal with primitive emotions inside themselves and consequently, not able to develop the skill to think about them and elaborate these emotions, expanding these unthinkable feelings to their body. In this manner these males use their body as a fort to protect them from overwhelming feelings such as invasion, abandonment and solitude. (FAPESP).

O sistema de acasalamentos das abelhas sociais é intrigante. As rainhas acasalam durante uma curta janela de tempo nas fases inicias de suas vidas, armazenando o esperma pelo resto de suas vidas. Enquanto as rainhas das abelhas sem ferrão (Meliponini) e de mamangavas (Bombini) se acasalam com um ou poucos machos (monândricas), as rainhas de espécies representantes do gênero Apis (Apini) acasalam-se com vários machos (poliândricas). Diversas hipóteses têm sido propostas para compreender os benefícios do comportamento extremamente promíscuo das rainhas do gênero Apis. Porém, pouco foi feito para entender as igualmente intrigantes pressões seletivas que mantém a monandria em um grupo tão diverso quanto o das abelhas sem ferrão. No presente estudo, investigamos como as forças seletivas causadas pelas produção de machos diploides (uma consequência natural do sistema de determinação sexual em Hymenoptera) podem afetar o sistema de acasalamento da abelha sem ferrão brasileira, Scaptotrigona depilis. Em particular, rainhas que realizam um acasalamento pareado para o locus sexual (i.e., acasalam com um macho que possui o mesmo alelo sexual) terão o seu fitness reduzido porque elas serão executadas em colônias com 50% de machos diploides entre sua cria diploide. Acasalar-se com mais de um macho aumentam as chances de um acasalamento pareado, mas reduz a proporção de machos diploides na cria. Por meio da manipulação dos favos de cria de colônias experimentais, nós testamos se a mortalidade de rainhas com proporções menores de machos diploides na cria terão taxas de mortalidade similares à de rainhas em colônias com 0% ou 50% de machos diploides na cria. Para isso, obtivemos rainhas produzindo machos diploides nesta espécie e estudamos alguns detalhes de sua biologia, em particular, a viabilidade e morfologia de seus espermatozoides e comportamento fora de suas colônias (Capítulo 1). Nós verificamos se a rainha morre na presença de machos diploides, como este comportamento é predominante na população, e quais os possíveis mecanismos que desencadeiam este comportamento (Capítulo 2). Finalmente, verificamos se a mortalidade de rainhas em colônias com proporções menores de machos diploides na cria (simulando acasalamentos múltiplos) é mais próxima da mortalidade de rainhas em colônias com 0 ou 50% de machos diploides (Capítulo 3). Verificamos que os machos diploides de S. depilis são viáveis e juntam-se a agregados reprodutivos. Seus espermatozoides possuem a mesma viabilidade que os dos machos haploides, porém possuem a cabeça e a cauda maiores. As rainhas são mortas na presença de cerca de 50% de machos diploides na cria e esse comportamento é muito difundido na população estudada, com 100% de morte das rainhas (n=20). O perfil químico de hidrocarbonetos cuticulares dos machos diploides é quantitativamente diferente dos machos haploides, sugerindo que pode conter informações para que a rainha seja executada. No entanto, por meio da contagem de espermatozoides na espermateca de rainhas recém acasaladas e com um ano de idade foi possível observar que o esgotamento de espermatozoides pode afetar a expectativa de vida das rainhas. Isso sugere que o sinal para execução da rainha também pode estar associado a uma quantidade grande de machos emergindo, como um sinal de esgotamento de espermatozoides da rainha, ao invés da ploidia dos machos. Rainhas em colônias com cerca de 25% de machos diploides emergindo foram mortas em proporções semelhantes à de rainhas em colônias com 50% de machos diploides. Isso indica que esse comportamento causa uma pressão seletiva contra os acasalamentos duplos nessa espécie, pois ao acasalar duas vezes a rainha dobra as chances de realizar um acasalamento pareado e a mortalidade é igual à de rainhas que se acasalam uma única vez. / The mating systems of social bees is intriguing. Queens mate within a narrow time window very early in their lives, storing male sperm for their entire lifespan. In bumblebees (Bombini) and stingless bees (Meliponini), queens usually mate with a single male (monandry), while the queens of Apis species (Apini) mate with several males (polyandry). Several hypothesis have been proposed to understand the benefits of the extreme polyandry of honey bees. However, very little have been done in order to understand the equally intriguing selective forces that make such a diverse group as stingless bees as monandrous. In the present study we investigate how the selective force imposed by the chances of producing diploid males (a natural consequence of sex determination system of Hymenoptera) can affect the mating system of the Brazilian stingless bee Scaptotrigona depilis. In particular, queens that make a matched mating for the sex locus (i.e., mating with a male with the same sex allele) will have reduced fitness because queens are executed when producing 50% of diploid males amongst her diploid offspring. Mating with more males increase the chances of a matched mating, but reduces the proportion of diploid males on their brood. By manipulating the brood combs of experimental colonies, we tested whether queens with smaller proportions of diploid males (25%) will have mortality rates similar to queens in colonies with 0% or 50% diploid males. For that, we obtained queens producing diploid males and studied details of diploid males biology, in particular their sperm viability and morphology, and their behaviour out of their mother colonies (Chapter 1). We verified how prevalent queen execution behaviour under diploid male production is on this species, and the possible proximate mechanisms that trigger this behaviour (Chapter 2). Finally, we verified whether queen mortality in colonies with lower proportion of diploid males (simulating multiple mating) is closer to colonies with 50% or 0% of diploid males (Chapter 3). We verified that diploid males of S. depilis are viable and can join reproductive aggregations. Their sperm cells have the same viability of haploid males, but have longer sperm head and tail cells. Queens are executed in the presence of 50% of diploid males, and this behaviour is very prevalent on the studied population, with 100% of queen death (n=20). The cuticular hydrocarbon chemical profile of diploid males is quantitatively different from haploid males, suggesting that workers could use it as a signal for queen execution. However, sperm count of newly mated queens and one-year-old queens showed that sperm depletion might affect queen lifespan. This suggests that the signal for queen execution could also be related to a high number of males emergence, as a signal of queen sperm depletion, instead of male ploidy. Queens mortality in colonies with 25% of diploid males was similar to queens in colonies with 50%. This indicates that double mating is selected against regarding this selective pressure, since mating twice will increase the chances of a matched mating and queen mortality will be the same as single mated queens.

Background: Dyspraxia, also included under the term Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), is a condition characterised by an impairment in motor skills function which impacts negatively on other aspects of daily living such as athletic capability, handwriting, self-esteem and social interaction. However, no effective therapy currently exists to address all of these issues within this group. The aim of the present study therefore was to investigate whether a complementary therapy, called Fascia Bowen therapy, would improve neuromuscular function and psychological wellbeing in males aged 8-11 (at Primary School) diagnosed with this condition. Methods: A group of 10 participants meeting the criteria of 15th centile or below in motor skills functioning, received a Fascia Bowen therapy treatment session from a qualified Fascia Bowen practitioner each week for 6 weeks. All participants’ motor skills function were assessed by an occupational therapist before and after the end of the intervention using the Motor Skills Assessment Battery for Children test (MABC-2). Additionally, parents, teachers and participants completed questionnaires measuring self-esteem, social skills, social interaction, behaviour and scholastic function before and after the intervention. Results: The participants showed significant improvement in neuromuscular function over time using the MABC-2. However, no significant changes were shown in the other measures of functioning. Although parents did provide some anecdotal reports about positive changes in real life, these were not reflected in the measures. The results suggest that while improvements were shown as significant in the motor domain, which was the focus of the therapy, the results did not translate to other domains of life over time. 13 Conclusions: Further research is necessary to test the efficacy of the treatment’s effects using a larger sample, a control group and a longer intervention timescale. A six week intervention period may not be sufficient to show significant changes in self-esteem, social skills, social interaction, behaviour and scholastic functions which have deep-rooted constructs developed over many years. These may therefore take a long time to change.

A literatura aponta que casos de transtornos alimentares em homens têm uma menor incidência do que em mulheres e que, até os anos 80, questões relacionadas à imagem corporal eram vistas como uma preocupação feminina, porém estudos recentes demonstram que os homens também estão sofrendo com preocupações relativas à corporeidade e isso se reflete no comportamento alimentar, na prática de exercícios físicos e na adesão às dietas. Apesar disso, quadros clínicos de homens com anorexia e/ou bulimia nervosas ainda são pouco conhecidos e apresentam uma enorme complexidade diagnóstica. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o modo singular como portadores de anorexia e/ou bulimia nervosas vivenciam o corpo e a imagem corporal e como os acompanhantes/familiares e os profissionais de saúde percebem a problemática desses rapazes em relação à corporeidade, visando compreender essa singularidade e qual a sua influência na evolução desses transtornos alimentares e no tratamento. Trata-se de uma pesquisa com abordagem qualitativa, priorizando um enfoque exploratório, conduzida segundo o método de estudo de caso. O estudo compreende três casos e a população do universo de cada caso é composta por: paciente, seus respectivos acompanhantes/familiares (que o acompanharam durante tratamento) e profissionais de saúde responsáveis diretos pela assistência em cada caso (psicólogo, nutricionista, médico nutrólogo e psiquiatra). O contexto da investigação é de um serviço especializado na assistência em transtornos alimentares. Para a coleta de dados a pesquisadora utilizou três fontes: (1) consulta aos prontuários dos participantes (pacientes), visando obter informações clínicas que complementarão as informações obtidas com os profissionais; (2) entrevistas individuais semi-estruturadas com os participantes (pacientes, acompanhantes e profissionais de saúde) e (3) diário de campo. Primeiramente foi realizada análise de cada caso separadamente, as entrevistas foram submetidas à análise de conteúdo na modalidade temática, o que proporcionou conhecer como profissionais de saúde e familiares percebem a forma com que o paciente vivencia sua corporeidade, bem como a ótica do próprio paciente. Em seguida, o material coligido a partir das entrevistas, prontuário e diário de campo foi triangulado e submetido à interpretação, seguindo as proposições da teoria psicanalítica, inspirando-se principalmente no trabalho de Winnicott. Os resultados da análise dos casos sugeriram que estes rapazes não foram capazes de lidar com emoções primitivas e consequentemente, não foram capazes de desenvolver a capacidade de pensá-las e elaborá-las, expandindo essas emoções impensáveis para o corpo. Dessa forma, conclui-se que esses rapazes usam o corpo como uma fortaleza que os protege da vivência de sentimentos tão angustiantes, como invasão, desamparo e solidão. (FAPESP). / Literature shows that cases of males with eating disorders are in less incidence than females and that until the eighties issues related to body and body image were seen as a female concern. However, current studies present that males are also suffering due to worries regarding corporeity and it reflects on the eating habits, on the practice of physical exercises and on diet habits. In spite of it, clinical cases of males who develop anorexia and/or bulimia nervosa still are scarcely known and have an enormous diagnostic complexity. The aim of this study was to investigate the singular way of how males with eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa) experience body and body image and how family and health professionals perceive the troubles of these males with regards to their corporeity, intending to understand this singularity and its influence in the development of an eating disorder and in the treatment. It is a qualitative, exploratory research, carried out according to the case study methodology. This study comprehends 3 cases and the population of each case is composed by: patient and his respective family (who have followed the patient throughout the illness and treatment) and health professionals (responsible for the assistance to the patient: nutritionist, psychologist, psychiatrist, nutrologist). It was carried out in the eating disorders service of the Hospital das Clínicas da FMRP-USP (Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto - Universidade de São Paulo - USP). The data was collected from 3 sources: (1) consultation to the medical reports of the patients, in order to obtain clinical and socio - demographic information, (2) individual interview with the participants (patients, family and professionals), (3) diary (where I wrote feelings and impressions I had throughout the research process and interviews). Firstly each case was analyzed separately; the interviews were transcribed literarily and submitted for theme-based content analysis. After that, the data collected from the interviews, medical reports and diary were interpreted mainly according to the psychoanalytic approach of Winnicott. The results of the analysis of the cases suggested that these males were not able to deal with primitive emotions inside themselves and consequently, not able to develop the skill to think about them and elaborate these emotions, expanding these unthinkable feelings to their body. In this manner these males use their body as a fort to protect them from overwhelming feelings such as invasion, abandonment and solitude. (FAPESP).

The purpose of this study was to compare the achievement of students who participated in a freshman academy program to the achievement of those who participated in the traditional high school curriculum. The researcher used grade point average and composite ACT score as determinants of achievement. The population consisted of the graduating classes of 2009 and 2010 at one East Tennessee high school. Independent sample t tests evaluated the relationship between achievement and type of freshman experience. The independent variables were participation in the freshman academy, being male, being female, and race. The dependent variables were grade point average and ACT composite score. The researcher made comparisons between all students, female students, male students, African American students, and white students in both programs. The quantitative findings revealed that males who participated in the freshmen academy achieved at a significantly higher rate than males who did not. In addition, the findings indicated white students who participated in the academy performed at a significantly higher rate than African American students who participated in the academy. There were no significant differences in the achievement of the entire population of each class, female students, white students, or African American students.

The shootings and killings across the country of unarmed African American males by police officers, has become a topic of discussion. Previous research indicates that African American males, in comparison to other groups, are more likely to have adverse encounters with law enforcement officials. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the experiences and perceptions of African American males in Prince Georges' County regarding encounters with the Prince Georges' County Police Department and how the relationship can improve. Max Weber's social action theory was used to examine perception and purposive sampling aided in gathering this information from a group of 10 African American male participants. Interviews were transcribed and then coded and analyzed using a modified Van Kaam procedure. Findings suggest most participants believe Prince Georges County police are doing a good job. The participants also noted specific strategies, including better utilization of seminars, meetings, and other collaborative efforts may improve police-community interactions and relations. The implications for positive social change include recommendations to law enforcement executives in the Prince Georges' County Police Department to utilize the insight gained through this study to better understand how they are perceived by the African American males in the county and strengthen outreach and collaboration efforts. Following these recommendations may improve the nature of police-community relations thereby advancing public safety within the county and with the African American community in particular.

Many U.S. colleges and universities have created programs to improve retention and graduation rates of Black male students. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the lived experiences of Black male learning community participants and discover what faculty and staff perceive to be major influences on the retention of this population. The conceptual framework was rooted in Tinto's student integration model and Swail's geometric model of student persistence and achievement. The research questions within this study examined what faculty/staff perceive to be a major influence on the retention of minority male learning community participants. The questions also examined the perceptions of black male learning community participants regarding the major influence on their decision to remain at the selected institution after their first year. Data collection included semistructured interviews with 2 faculty, 2 staff, and 6 student learning community participants, and examination of national and local records. Data coding and analysis revealed 5 themes: college selection, college perception, learning community experience, Black male retention, and Black male mentorship. Findings indicated that most learning community participants returned to the institution based on faculty/staff support and a brotherhood bond with their peers. Faculty and staff reported that the institution could retain more minority male students if faculty/staff engagement with students and male mentorship beyond the learning community were increased. The project included a professional development program on effective minority male mentoring strategies for faculty/staff at the selected institution. This project may bring a new perspective on the idea of minority male retention while providing university officials with qualitative data to increase retention.