Participatory Planning at the Grassroots: The Tennessee Valley Authority\u27s Tributary Area Development Program

This research studied how, and the extent to which, participation was part of the Tennessee Valley Authority\u27s (TVA) Tributary Area Development (TAD) program. The methods of the research and collection of data and information for this thesis project was done through a couple of techniques. An extensive review of participatory planning, tributary area development, and Tennessee Valley Authority literature was conducted. This review included going through TVA and TAD files. An interview process involving past participants and liaisons of the TAD program was also conducted as part of the research and documentation process. This study concluded the following as regards the TVA\u27s TAD program: (1) the TAD program was compromised by the myopic view of its participants; (2) partners to the TAD process acted like competing interests groups who campaigned to define the optimum and express the need; (3) the TAD program was a political game that was full of strategic moves, defensive strategies, manipulative tactics, and belligerent attitudes; (4) owing to the above, among others, the TAD program, it can be said, failed as a participatory planning program

Optimizing Energy Conversion in Organic Materials via Processing and Morphological Design.

The performance and reliability of bulk heterojunction thin film polymer solar cells are inextricably linked to the three-dimensional nanoscale morphological structure of the photoactive materials, driven by the extent of phase separation between the polymer and fullerene components. To this end, well-established processing protocols to induce phase separation comprising high temperature and solvent vapor annealing have been employed to create optimal nanoscale morphologies. This thesis examines two fundamental approaches regarding the control of nanoscale morphology: (1) a novel environmentally benign processing method, and (2) the use of an all-conjugated gradient copolymer.PhDApplied PhysicsUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/120723/1/jamonoo_1.pd

PREDICTORS OF SCHOOL CHOICE: THE CASE OF PARENTS IN CAPE COAST, GHANA

We identified the pertinent factors affecting parents’ choice of a particular senior high school (SHS) in Ghana, focusing on parents with at least one child in a SHS in Ghana and are residents of Cape Coast. The approach and design used were quantitative and descriptive survey design respectively. A sample of 637 of the parents, made up of 349 women and 288 men, was used. The parents were selected using convenience and snowball sampling techniques. A questionnaire, with a reliability coefficient ranging from 0.735 – 0.829, was the instrument used to collect the data. Out of the 637 parents sampled, we were able to retrieve 588 completed questionnaires, representing 92.3 percent response rate. The data were analysed using cross tabulation and linear multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed that parents preferred public boarding SHS which is single-sex education. Also, parents preferred schools with excellent academic record, quality instruction, and positive school values. Similarly, family/parental related factors such as family moral and religious values, and parents’ income and education levels, and also social related factors such as school popularity and brand, peer influence, and social network predict significantly and positively parents’ choice of a particular SHS. We conclude that school, family and social related factors are able to influence parents’ school choice. It is recommended to heads of SHSs to be attentive to the various institutional factors and create schools that address the needs of the parents in their communities in order to attract and retain students.   Article visualizations

Post-Conflict Mental Health Policy and Substance Use Among Liberian Adults

AbstractThe objective of post-conflict countries after an extended period of war and trauma is to maintain peace and stability. However, the physical and psychological effects of substance use to cope with the devastation of war remains long after the crisis has ended. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to examine substance use among Liberian working-age adults, including their substance use habits, experiences with substance use, and access to mental health rehabilitative treatment. The access to medical care theoretical framework was used to guide the study. Data were collected from face-to-face semistructured interviews with 15 individuals regarding their experiences as substance users in Liberia. Data analysis included manual coding of interview transcripts to identify recurring themes. The findings revealed that although there is room for improvement with mental health services and treatment, the mental health services utilized by the substance users were instrumental to their rehabilitation and recovery. Suggestions for improvement of substance use treatment programs included establishing life skills and vocational training as part of rehabilitation to have former substance users reintegrate into society with meaningful occupational skills that will prevent relapse of substance use behavior. Findings may be used to improve clinical and patient education services and address mental health policies to manage patients effectively leading to positive social change

The Influence of Political Ideology on Awareness of HPV and HPV Vaccine Among Adults in the United States

This study aimed to investigate the association between political ideology and awareness of HPV and HPV vaccine among US adults. Study data were derived from Health Information National Trends Survey 5 Cycle 4, a 2020 cross-sectional survey of US adults. Multivariable logistic regressions were conducted to examine the association between political ideology with HPV and HPV vaccine awareness. A total of 3418 adults participated in the study, with the majority being non-Hispanic White individuals and women. The results showed that 66.1% and 62.3% of the participants were aware of HPV and HPV vaccine, respectively. A total of 36.9%, 29.7% and 33.4% of the population reported moderate, liberal and conservative political ideologies respectively. Awareness levels were highest among liberals, with 77.1% and 72.7% reporting awareness of HPV and HPV vaccine respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that liberal participants were more likely to be aware of HPV (aOR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.25-3.00), and HPV vaccines (aOR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.37-2.74) compared to moderates. Also, liberals had higher odds of HPV (aOR, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.65-3.51), and HPV vaccine awareness (aOR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.29-2.83) compared to conservatives. However, there was no significant difference in awareness between moderates and conservatives. Study findings point to an association between individuals\u27 political ideology and HPV awareness. Further research is needed to understand the intricacies on how political ideology impacts HPV awareness. Overall, results highlight the need to incorporate individuals\u27 political ideologies in interventions geared toward increasing the awareness and uptake of HPV vaccination

RHETORICAL STRUCTURE OF ANNIVERSARY SPEECHES IN THE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN GHANA: A CASE OF WESLEY GIRL'S HIGH SCHOOLS AND ST. AUGUSTINE’S COLLEGE IN THE CENTRAL REGION

The study presents a case study on the use of rhetoric in anniversary speeches of Heads of Wesley Girl’s Senior High School and St. Augustine’s College in Cape Coast in the central region of Ghana.  Purposive sampling was used to sample ten (10) speeches out of twelve (12) speeches collected from the selected schools. The study employed qualitative content analysis and content analysis (these concepts are synonymous; hence no need to repeat as if they are entirely different) to analysis the data.  The results show that anniversary speeches of Heads of public Senior High Schools have a six-move structure, with moves two and three used by the schools to persuade the audience and promote the schools. It was also found that the schools used the material processes to show the audience that they are working institutions by indicating what they have achieved, what they are doing and what they will do. The study also revealed that testimonials are commonly used in promotional discourse and consist of a written or spoken statement of a known or unknown endorser who praises the virtues of a product or service

Human Health Risk Assessment For Arsenic: A Critical Review

Millions of people are exposed to arsenic resulting in a range of health implications.This paper provides an up-to-date review of the different sources of arsenic (water, soil and food), indicators of human exposure (biomarker assessment of hair, nail, urine and blood), epidemiological and toxicological studies on carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health outcomes, and risk assessment approaches. The review demonstrates a need for more work evaluating the risks of different arsenic species such as; arsenate, arsenite monomethylarsonic acid, monomethylarsonous acid, dimethylarsinic acid and dimethylarsinous acid as well as a need to better integrate the different exposure sources in risk assessments