Old enough to know : consulting children about sex and AIDS education in Africa

This compelling study, comprising of a sample of eight schools in three countries in sub-Saharan Africa – Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania – examines the sources, contents and processes of children´s community-based sexual knowledges and asks how these knowledges interact with AIDS education programmes in school. Old enough to know showcases the possibilities of consulting pupils using engaging, interactive and visual methods including digital still photography, mini-video documentaries, as well as interviews and observations. These innovative methods allow children to speak freely and openly in contexts where talking about sex to adults is a cultural tabo

Model Based Test Generation and Optimization

Abstract Model Based Test Generation and Optimization Mohamed Mussa A. Mussa, Ph.D. Concordia University, 2015 Software testing is an essential activity in the software engineering process. It is used to enhance the quality of the software products throughout the software development process. It inspects different aspects of the software quality such as correctness, performance and usability. Furthermore, software testing consumes about 50% of the software development efforts. Software products go through several testing levels. The main ones are unit-level testing, component-level testing, integration-level testing, system-level testing and acceptance-level testing. Each testing level involves a sequence of tasks such as planning, modeling, execution and evaluation. Plenty of systematic test generation approaches have been developed using different languages and notations. The majority of these approaches target a specific testing-level. However, only little effort has been directed toward systematic transition among testing-levels. Considering the incompatibility between these approaches, tailored compatibility-tools are required between the testing levels. Furthermore, several test models are usually generated to evaluate the implementation at each testing level. Unfortunately, there is redundancy among these models. Efficient reuse of these test models represents a significant challenge. On the other hand, the growing attention to the model driven methodologies bonds the development and the testing activities. However, research is still required to link the testing levels. In this PhD thesis, we propose a model based testing framework that enables reusability and collaboration across the testing levels. In this framework, we propose test generation and test optimization approaches that at each level consider artifacts generated in preceding testing levels. More precisely, we propose an approach for the generation of integration test models starting from component test models, and another approach for the optimization of the acceptance test model using the integration test models. To conduct our research in rigorous settings, we base our framework on standard notations that are widely adopted for software development and testing, namely Unified Modeling Language (UML). In our first approach, component test cases are examined to locate and select the ones that include an interaction among the integrated components. The selected test cases are merged to generate integration test cases, which tackles the theoretical research issue of merging test cases. Furthermore, the generated test cases are mapped against each other to remove potential redundancies. For the second approach, acceptance test optimization, integration test models are compared to the acceptance test model in order to remove test cases that have already been exercised during the integration-level testing. However, not all integration test cases are suitable for the comparison. Integration test cases have to be examined to ensure that they do not include test stubs for system components. We have developed two approaches and implemented the corresponding prototypes in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of our work. The first prototype implements the integration test generation approach. It accepts component test models and generates integration test models. The second prototype implements the acceptance test optimization approach. It accepts integration test models along with the acceptance test model and generates an optimized acceptance test model

Establishment of savings and credit cooperative society for Parakuyo Imara: "A case of Parakuyo Imara Livestock Primary Cooperative Society Limited in Mikongoro Sub Village, Msata Ward, Bagamoyo District"

The Parakuyo Imara Livestock Primary Cooperative Society (Parakuyo Imara) is a community-based organization (CBO) based in Mikongoro sub-village in Msata ward, Bagamoyo district. Most of Parakuyo Imara members are pastoralist MAASAI by tribe. Parakuyo Imara had 22 founder members, comprising of 6 women and 16 men, residents of Mikongoro in the year 2000. The community members face a problem of low level of income, which induces poor quality of livestock and crop production due to poor methods of crop and animal husbandry. The CBO objective was to improve the livelihoods of its members and those of the community as a whole through improved crop production and livestock husbandry practices. The CBO was registered as livestock primary cooperative society under the Cooperatives Act, 1991. The study therefore aims to find out feasible and viable ways of establishing Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (SACCOS) at Msata ward. The study considered SACCOS as the best and simply means of generating capital for investment among poor. The research involved a sample size of 38 respondents 14 were female, and 24 were male. A research finding shows the necessity of establishment of a SACCOS in the community. The community expected the newly established SACCOS to solve the identified problem of low capital investment to boost up income level of the members. The project seeks Members and leaders to mobilize local savings and operate a small-scale credit facility through SACCOS. (Author abstract)Msakamali, M. M. (2007). Establishment of savings and credit cooperative society for Parakuyo Imara: a case of Parakuyo Imara Livestock Primary Cooperative Society Limited in Mikongoro Sub Village, Msata Ward, Bagamoyo District. Retrieved from http://academicarchive.snhu.eduMaster of Science (M.S.)School of Community Economic Developmen

Hall Effect Parameters of Aluminium and Tungsten Co-Doped VO2 Thin Films

The Hall Effect parameters of Al and W co-doped VO2 thin films were studied in order to explain the effect of co-doping on the electrical properties of thermochromic VO2 films. The carrier concentrations and conductivity of the films were found to increase with increase in temperature while carrier mobility decreased reaching a minimum around the transition temperature then slightly rose and became stable at high temperatures. Tungsten doped films displayed higher carrier concentrations and conductivity on both sides of the metal insulator transition and lower mobility compared to undoped and Al and W co-doped VO2 thin films.Keywords: Vanadium dioxide; Hall effect; Career concentration; career mobilit

Deceptive cultural practices that sabotage HIV/AIDS education in Tanzania and Kenya

In spite of numerous HIV/AIDS‐prevention education efforts, the HIV infection rates in Sub‐Saharan Africa remain high. Exploring and understanding the reasons behind these infection rates is imperative in a bid to offer life skills and moral education that address the root causes of the pandemic. In a recent study concerning effective HIV/AIDS‐prevention education, conducted in Tanzania and Kenya among teacher trainees and their tutors, the notion of mila potofu (defined by educators as ‘deceptive’ cultural practices) emerged as a key reason for educators’ difficulties in teaching HIV/AIDS prevention education in schools and for high HIV infection rates. Since these cultural practices cause harm, and in many cases lead to death, they are of moral concern. This paper outlines some of these cultural practices identified by educators, including ‘wife inheritance’, ‘sexual cleansing’ and the taboo against certain foods, and discusses how these practices contribute towards HIV/AIDS vulnerability. It then offers recommendations for classroom‐based life skills and moral education following Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development in understanding how ‘assimilation’, ‘accommodation’ and ‘adaptation’ can help people discard mila potofuin a culturally sensitive manner

Seismic response analysis of linked twin tall buildings with structural coupling

Effect of structural links on seismic responses for a linked building system has been investigated in this paper by using finite element modeling technique. The linked building system in this study is represented by twin 40-story reinforced concrete frame-wall structures horizontally coupled by structural links. It is assumed that the two adjacent buildings were similar in this linked building system, so the two adjacent stories could be linked at the same height by an inter-building link. The linked building system is modeled as a rigid floor diaphragm for towers and as a beam for each link fixedly linked to the perimeter structural framework of the buildings. By employing earthquake time history excitation, the seismic responses of the twin towers were computed at different locations for the link. The responses of structures were evaluated and compared. The analysis outcomes indicated that the link could effectively change the structural responses of the linked building system. The structural responses have been decreased in some cases compared to the single tower, referring to the extra link stiffness as gathering the single tower to withstand seismic excitation. While the responses have been increased in other cases, attributing to the additional mass of link. Thus, in the design of seismic-resistant linked building systems, care must be taken. Particularly regarding properties of the link, specifically mass, stiffness, and location, as well as the link resistance with respect to the strength of the link and/or the structural elements composing the link to obviate undesired structural responses

Behaviour of prestressed box beam strengthened with CFRP under effect of strand snapping

U radu se analizira ponašanje prednapete sandučaste grede ojačane polimerom s ugljičnim vlaknima (CFRP) za slučaj pucanja prednapetih užadi. Tri vanjske prednapete sandučaste grede ispitane su do sloma. Analiza je provedena s naglaskom na nosivost, širinu i obrazac širenja pukotina, te na torzijsku čvrstoću grede. Rezultati pokazuju da primjena CFRP-a dovodi do znatnog smanjenja progiba i do povećanja nosivosti u slučaju pucanja užadi. Pukotine se ne pojavljuju na dnu grede na koju je postavljen CFRP, a bitno je povećana i krutost grede na torziju.The study aims to evaluate behaviour of a prestressed box beam strengthened with the Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) under the snapping of prestressed strands. Three external prestressed box beams are tested until failure. The evaluation focuses on the load carrying capacity, cracks pattern and width, and torsional capacity of the beam. The results show that the use of CFRP causes significant reduction of beam deflection and an increase of its loading capacity under snapping effects. The cracks do not appear at the bottom of the beam where the CFRP is placed, and the torsion stiffness of the beam increases considerably

FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF COMPOSITE PLATE GIRDERS WITH A CORRUGATED WEB

Corrugated steel plates are widely used in pre-stressed box girder bridges due to its ability to achieve an adequate shear buckling resistant and reduce the dead weights. The present study aimed to determine the static behaviour of two and four panels composite plate girder with a corrugated web by using LUSAS software. The numerical models were validated according to the outcomes of a previous experimental test. The validation results indicated a good consistency in terms of load-deflection response, shear strength and failure mode. Intensive parametric studies were carried out to determine the effects of corrugation angle (), corrugated web thickness (), flange thickness () and concrete strength on the behaviour of composite plate girder. The results indicated a positive increase in the shear strength and change in the failure mode of the both investigated girders with the increase of corrugation angle, web and flange thickness. On the other hand, a slight effect was noted for the concrete strength on the shear resistance and failure mode of the composite plate girders with corrugated webs, therefore, a considerable reduction in the construction cost might be achieved by utilizing a normal concrete strength in the design