A systematic review of factors influencing the psychological health of conflict-affected populations in low- and middle-income countries.

BACKGROUND: Elevated levels of poor mental health have been recorded amongst populations affected by armed conflict. The aim of this study was to systematically review existing evidence on the factors influencing general psychological health of conflict-affected populations in low- and middle-income countries. METHODS: Quantitative studies that described statistically significant associations with general psychological health of adult conflict-affected persons in low- and middle-income countries were included. Bibliographic databases and humanitarian agency websites were searched, and a screening, selection and review process was applied. The findings are described using commonly recurring categories of demographic characteristics, socio-economic factors and exposure to traumatic events. RESULTS: Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Factors with an association with worse general psychological health were demographic factors of gender (women), older age and not being married; socio-economic factors, such as low education level, low income and assets, not working, residential status, living conditions and insecurity; and a number of violent and traumatic events including forced displacement - particularly internal displacement. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence base was weak and methodological limitations were noted. Further research is required to better understand the factors influencing general psychological health amongst conflict-affected populations in low- and middle-income countries

Can childhood animal cruelty be learned?: examining age of onset and recurrency

Few studies have examined how animal cruelty can be a learned behavior. Using data collected from 257 male inmates at a Southern state medium-security prison, the current study seeks to replicate the Hensley, Tallichet and Dutkiewicz (2012) study. It examines the potential for the onset and recurrence of childhood animal cruelty to become a learned behavior, specifically in terms of how demographic characteristics and childhood experiences, such as witnessing animal cruelty and being mentally and/or physically abused, influence such behavior. In the current study, those who were physically abused as children reported engaging in recurrent animal cruelty. Those who reported witnessing animal cruelty at a younger age also reported engaging in animal cruelty at an earlier age. Respondents who reported witnessing a parent commit acts of animal abuse reported that they committed animal abuse themselves at an older age, while those who witnessed a brother/sister commit animal abuse reported engaging in it at an earlier age

Random record processes and state dependent thinning

AbstractSuppose that a point process N̄t = T1, T2, … if [0, ∞) is thinned by independently retaining Tn with probability pn. Our main examples are the classical p-thinning (pn ≡ p) and the random record process (pn = 1n). When N̄t is a mixed, nonhomogeneous Poisson process, we find conditions under which the thinned process is Poisson. When N̄t is a pure birth process (gamma-mixed Poisson with exponential rate), we show that the record process is Markov renewal, with an interesting structure, and we compare this with related asymptotic results. When N̄t is a Mittag-Leffler renewal process (the homogeneous Poisson is a special case), we give a “Deheuvels-type” representation of the record process (Deheuvels, 1982) and related characterization results

Learning Environments That Promote Achievement and Success of African American Male Students

THREE TOPICS TO BE ADDRESSED:Learning ConditionsOrganizational StructuresDistrict/ School Climat

The Emergence Of The American Agriculture Movement, 1977-1979

Beginning in late 1977, the media, television in particular, portrayed as a unique cultural phenomenon an emerging American Agriculture Movement (AAM), a pending farm strike, and a depressed farm economy that had caused this mobilization. Much was indeed unique, especially to the individual farmers and the specific manner in which they were attempting to apply political pressures, but the American Agriculture Movement itself was similar to other organizational attempts that have taken place in rural America. In the following paper we chronicle the emergence of the American Agriculture Movement as a distinct entity, identify the common features in the emergence of new farm organizations, and examine the conditions of modern society and technology that affect group formation. AN ORGANIZATION DEVELOPS Despite impressions left from journal and media accounts that portrayed a grass roots insurgency, the emergence of AAM must be seen in terms of an active leadership directing organizing efforts to a relatively inactive constituency.1 These leaders encouraged activism through a concerted strategy of mobilization with an emphasis on the national issue of a farm strike, the reintroduction of a traditional farm movement ideology, and the skillful use of public relations.2 AAM began in mid-summer· 1977 in Campo, Colorado, as an outgrowth of those enduring cafe conversations typical in all farm communities. However, Bud Bitner, George Bitner, Alvin Jenkins, Darrel Schroeder, Gene Schroeder, Van Stafford, and a few regular listeners talked mostly about a new political spokesman for farm interests during this particular summer.3 They saw a gloomy farm economy beset by both low prices and high costs, by an unresponsive government, and by an array of farm interest groups who were out of touch with real farm needs. Their immediate reaction to the 1977 Farm Bill, a piece of legislation that confirmed incentives for large-scale production without high supports, intensified their frustrations about each of these conditions and precipitated a decision to protest. Encouraged by the reception their ideas found in their own community, these locally respected larger-scale farmers and farmrelated businessmen proceeded to develop an organization based on rallies and protests against the political system.4 They would prompt and assist farmers throughout the country to organize as local groups, much along the lines of Farm Bureau county chapters, but without Bureau-related emphasis on nonpolitical services. AAM locals would be pockets of farmer interaction and discussion that would inspire political activism instead of emphasizing individual income.5 The local organizations would Jom in statewide and, finally, national demonstrations of movement support. Farmers, the initial organizers believed, were widely concerned about their weakened economic status but politically lethargic because they lacked inspired leadership

Book Reviews

This section contains reviews of Florence Parker Simister’s The Fire’s Center/Rhode Island in the Revolutionary Era, 1763-1790, Edwin S. Gaustad’s George Berkeley in America, Jeffrey R. Redmond’s “Viking” Hoaxes in North America by NHS Staff John F. Millar and Howard Browne

Differences Between Schools of Choice and Traditional Comprehensive Schools in Their Grade 9 Academic Performance

This study was conducted to determine the differences between schools of choice and traditional comprehensive high schools in terms of their Grade 9 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) End-of-Course (EOC) exams in Biology, English 1, and Algebra 1 during the 2017-2018 school year. Inferential statistical analyses revealed the presence of a statistically significant difference between the two types of schools on their EOC exam passing rates in all three content areas for students who were not at-risk and for students who were not in poverty. In contrast, statistically significant differences were not revealed between the two types of schools in terms of the EOC exam passing rates of their CATE and Non-CATE students. Knowing that students who have choice appear to perform better academically, policymakers are encouraged to study the feasibility of channeling more funding to help school districts expand their school choice programs to (a) motivate more students to find the school that fit their needs and their future college and career aspirations, and (b) to solicit more support from parents and community businesses to invest in their communities to improve schools through taxes.  Given that the data for this research were gathered for only 16 school districts in South Texas, researchers are encouraged to conduct a study that will involve all school districts in the whole state and possibly the whole nation to reach more conclusive evidence on the differences between schools of choice and neighborhood schools