This research aims to identify to what extent the primary drivers of migration gain influence due to social contagion effects – in other words, to what extent the metaphor of an “epidemic” can be used to describe emigration. The scope of the research is limited to the migration of individuals from South Africa to countries abroad. A model is developed as a means with which to analyse the premise that social contagion influences migration due to its effect on the underlying driver's thereof. Results obtained through analysis of secondary data reveal the primary drivers of migration, their trends and their relative influence within the population. Results obtained through simulation revealed that the impact of general crises attributable to a particular determinant of migration is fleeting and that increased rates will subside in time. In contrast, as random isolated events related to the primary drivers of migration increase in frequency and intensity, so too does migration. In addition, drivers disseminated through social contagion discouraging migration from South Africa are found to be capable of negating the influence of the determinants of migration. Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

This study examines the effect of migration and emotions on knowledge transfer with the intention of identifying the emotions influencing the willingness of South African emigrants to transfer knowledge to South Africans living in South Africa. The increasing number of South Africans emigrating is exacerbating the skills shortage in the country and therefore it is of importance to understand the profile of a South African emigrant who is willing to transfer knowledge to South Africans living in South Africa. Through understanding who to target for assistance South Africa will be able to better utilise those emigrants who are willing to assist. The primary data was collected through an online survey. Of the 311 responses 210 were usable in the regression models run. The outcome of this research supports previous literature that positive knowledge sharing emotions play a major role in influencing the willingness to transfer knowledge. Because this is voluntary knowledge sharing emigrants tend to share knowledge when they are happy and when they feel positive towards knowledge sharing. This is influenced by positive feelings about their own knowledge and about their decision to emigrate. The results also suggest that emigrant‟s emotions towards knowledge sharing were not dominated by their feelings about South Africa, but rather by their emotions towards their host country. Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

The New Economics of Labour Migration theory, recognizes family participation in migration decisions as a strategy for moving out of poverty, thus signaling potential welfare linkages between migrants and family members left behind. The current study investigates the impact of migration on welfare of migrant sending households in rural Zimbabwe using cross-sectional data. The study employed a Counterfactual approach and utilized two stage Heckman selection model to control for selection bias. The results indicated that on average, migration impacts household welfare positively but the welfare gains are not evenly distributed among households. Overall, the welfare of households with migrants would have been 5 percentage points lower if migrant members had stayed at home. Based on the findings, the main recommendation is that policy makers need to consider the removal of de facto and de jure migration restrictions.

Counties and cities in Virginia exhibit distinct regional patterns of growth. While some regions are amongst the fastest growing of any in the nation, other regions have experienced slow or even negative rates of growth in recent decades. To better understand growth in Virginia in recent decades, this thesis presents and estimates an empirical model that will help determine which factors have had the greatest influence on the various components of growth. These components include migration, natural increase (births minus deaths) and employment growth. The results suggest that overall growth was most positively associated with areas of diffuse but high population, as found in many peri-urban localities. Results also indicate that high property taxes have had a strong negative influence upon growth in recent decades. For policy makers and planners in rapidly growing regions, these results indicate that development ordinances that restrict growth to more densely populated areas could effectively slow rates of rapid growth. For slow growth regions, these results indicate that maintenance of low living costs to attract migrants and a diversified employment base may be an effective means to stimulate growth. / Master of Science

Migration is one of the most current political issues of our time, and due to the large-scale mobility of people, impacts of migration are of great interest. Suitably the second decade of the twenty-first century has seen an increased stray of literature combining migration and individual resilience in research. However, such research has been one-sided and viewed migration in a negative relation to individual resilience. The purpose of this dissertation is to introduce a positive perspective of migration to individual resilience, by investigating if migration can be considered an individual resilience strategy, meaning a process that contributes to the capacity of an individual to regain or improve one’s well-being when facing a crisis or disturbance, by recognizing how a new setting meets individual goals and aspirations. For that purpose, a qualitative approach conducted through person-centered interviews of six voluntary immigrants in Sweden from non-western countries is conducted. The immigrants in this study are regarded as voluntary migrants, and although being a blurred category, voluntary in this research include moving away from a hostile and dangerous environment by choice. A complementary method used during interviews is a Cantril ladder to perceive a general understanding of how the well-being of the six immigrants changed over the ten years of consideration in this study. The findings suggest that migration can be considered a resilience strategy, not only as a process that protects against harm but one that contributes to goal attainment. The analysis conducted according to the process-oriented resilience framework presented by Liebenberg, Joubert, and Foucalt (2017) suggests that migration enabled a positive interaction of nurturing relationships, education, and a strong ability to act while remaining positive, in a context where one shares values, which resulted in improved or regained well-being. The former mentioned interaction was allowed by the new setting where a safe and secure environment, along with a changed community meaningmaking framework, including a different set of resources and opportunities, enabled goal attainment.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The biophysical microenvironment of the tumor site has significant impact on breast cancer progression and metastasis. The importance of altered mechanotransduction in cancerous tissue through the integrin-mediated signaling axis has been documented, yet its role in the regulation of cellular metabolism and the potential link between cellular energy and cell migration remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the role of mechanotransduction (via Src and FAK) in AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation in breast cancer cells in response to interstitial fluid flow. Additionally, we explored the involvement of AMPK in breast cancer cell migration. An in-vitro three-dimensional (3D) cell culture model utilizing collagen-Matrigel matrices was used. Interstitial fluid flow was applied to the 3D cell-matrix construct inside a flow chamber. The sub-cellular signaling activity of Src, FAK, and AMPK was visualized in real-time using fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET). We observed that breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) are more sensitive to interstitial fluid flow than normal epithelial cells (MCF-10A) in the regulation of FAK and Src. AMPK was activated in the mitochondria of MDA-MB-231 cells by interstitial fluid flow, but not in other subcellular domains (i.e., cytosol, plasma membrane, and nucleus). Subcellular AMPK in MCF-10A cells did not respond to interstitial fluid flow. The inhibition of FAK or Src abolished flow-induced AMPK activation in the mitochondria of MDA-MB-231 cells. We also observed that global AMPK activation reduced MDA-MB-231 cell migration. Interestingly, specific AMPK inhibition in the mitochondria reduced cell migration and blocked interstitial fluid flow-induced cell migration. Our results suggest the linkage of FAK/Src and mitochondria-specific AMPK in mechanotransduction and the dual role of AMPK in breast cancer cell migration depending on its subcellular activation. Therefore, subcellular AMPK activation may play an important and distinct role in cancer invasion and progression.

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Today, many Guatemalans flee the country and leave their home communities behind due to poor living conditions and high unemployment. Irregular migration involves many risks yet is for many seen as a necessity to live a purposeful life. Since attempts to improve these circumstances often is based on Westernized ideals and experiences, this study aims to portray the needs and attitudes from Maya communities in the Sololá region, Guatemala. To achieve this aim, twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted, one with representatives from the international organization for migration (IOM), 4 with mayors in the region and 7 with 8 Maya women who live in these communities. The study was carried out in collaboration with the nongovernmental organisation Natün who are active in the area, working to improve the Maya community's situation. By using the neoclassical theory, the new economics of labour migration and decolonial theory the experiences of the respondents were analysed. The results show that there is a broad spectrum of causes regarding why people feel the need to leave. Moreover, even though people have possibilities in Guatemala, they still search for a better life in the U.S. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and IOM´s purpose was analysed and compared to the actual needs of the community resulting in the conclusion that there is a risk these organization base their work on underlying motives such as stemming migration.

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