In the last few decades as American society and urban life have changed dramatically, public health and urban sociological research have increasingly focused on the effect of residential location on individual well-being. In recent years, social capital has been viewed as an important pathway in understanding the associations between where one lives and health and social outcomes. Although there is not one, single definition of social capital, researchers within public health have often relied on three schools of thought labeled after Pierre Bourdieu, James Coleman, and Robert Putnam to define social capital and hypothesize its relationship with health and behaviors. However, for many years, public health researchers have often relied on Putnam's theory (1993, 1995, 2000) and a communitarian approach to defining social capital and its possible relationship to health and well-being. Many researchers and sociologists have criticized this over-reliance and overuse of Putnam's social capital constructs as they have been criticized for lacking depth and their inability to explain the causal pathways in which social capital and health operate. Additionally, the measures used to operationalize the most widely used Putnam social capital constructs often focus only on a few dimensions of his theory; generalized trust, shared norms and values, reciprocity, and civic engagement. These measures have been criticized for simultaneously being overly theoretically broad and limited in its measurement. In this research, I use a more recent paradigm of social capital theory that conceptualizes social capital as having several dimensions thereby enabling one to examine the possibility that different forms of social capital and cohesion have different impacts (both negative and positive) on health behaviors and well-being. This paper compares a Putnam-based social capital model as measured by the most commonly used variables based on his work against a broader, multi-dimensional model that measures social capital across several constructs and variables. I have evaluated the "expanded" multi-dimensional model and the smaller, Putnam-only model with a different dataset to examine the relationships between these dimensions of social capital and health behaviors and outcomes. Additionally, recent sociological research using this expanded approach has highlighted the important role of individual attachment to the neighborhood as an important mediator in the association between social capital and health outcomes. Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), a longitudinal birth cohort study of families in 20 cities with populations of 200,000 or more people, I investigated the role of social capital as measured across four dimensions, social cohesion (the Putnam-based Traditional Model), individual neighborhood attachment, and neighborhood socio-economic conditions on the likelihood of maternal smoking and alcohol use. Moreover, this multi-dimensional model was enhanced by the addition of another feature of social capital that was not extensively addressed in prior research, bridging social capital. Bridging social capital has been defined as relationships among individuals who are not alike in social identity or characteristics. In recent years, bridging social capital at times has been further refined to highlight the relationships within heterogeneous networks who do not share the same power structures and institutions, and economic spheres. This has been referred to as "linking" social capital. Additionally, sociologist Mario Small has extensively documented that importance of both weak ties (an aspect of "bridging" social capital) and organizational embeddedness in the relationship between social capital and health and well- being for residents in poor communities. This underrepresented dimension in the public health literature is addressed in this paper. In this research, I incorporated a measure of bridging social capital and organizational ties to highlight the possible role this form of social capital may play in understanding the association of social capital and health outcomes. This research extends the current literature by applying a recently developed model of social capital to the analysis of health outcomes using a different data set. The goal of this study was not only to explore smoking and alcohol use, neighborhood socioeconomic conditions, indicators of social capital (including social support, social leverage, informal social control, neighborhood organization participation, and bridging social capital), and the role of individual neighborhood attachment but also highlight the importance for public health researchers to use a multidimensional approach rather than rely on utilizing a few social capital constructs retrieved from Putnam's extensive published work. The multi-dimensional approach which broadens the lens in which researchers use to aid them in the understanding the association between social capital and health and well-being is more beneficial than a narrow focus that relies on a few social capital domains to examine this relationship. The association of these different dimensions was statistically tested through multiple logistic regression analyses which examined a hypothesized interaction effect between organizational embeddedness and social capital and its association with health outcomes and behaviors. It is hoped that this research will further advance the public health discourse regarding the association between health outcomes and social capital, measured across several dimensions and conceptualized through an access to resources and networks based lens.

Introdução - O uso do creme dental, da escova dental, a frequência de escovação e ingestão de água e bebidas representam exposições relacionadas à saúde bucal. Essa frequência em populações tem sido estimada por meio de medidas indiretas; entretanto, a validade dessa forma de mensuração não é conhecida e há carência de instrumentos para sua mensuração em nível populacional. Objetivos - Revisar as evidências empíricas sobre a relação entre a frequência de uso de creme dental e os diferentes níveis de renda e escolaridade. Determinar a validade da medida indireta da quantidade de creme dental utilizado, do tamanho da cabeça da escova e da frequência de escovação com creme dental. Comparar uma medida autoaplicável sobre ingestão de água e bebidas por adolescentes com Recordatórios de 24 horas. Procedimentos Metodológicos - Uma revisão sistemática da literatura foi realizada utilizando-se as bases de dados Pubmed e Embase, buscando evidências empíricas sobre a relação entre a frequência de uso de creme dental e os diferentes níveis de renda e escolaridade. Uma subamostra de escolares na faixa etária de 13 a 16 anos de idade, em 2011, residentes no município de Piracicaba (SP), foi selecionada a partir de uma amostra representativa da população que participou de um estudo transversal sobre risco de obesidade em adolescentes (FAPESP 06/61085-0). Com este procedimento assegurou-se as mesmas características da amostra na subamostra de adolescentes participantes do estudo de validade. Após pré-teste dos instrumentos, um estudo de validação dividido em três momentos em intervalos de 15 dias foi conduzido com cada sujeito da pesquisa. No primeiro momento foram coletados os dados de peso/estatura, foi entregue um tubo de creme dental e também foi aferida a quantidade de creme dental habitualmente colocada na escova. No segundo momento, o tubo de creme dental usado foi recolhido e foi aferida pela segunda vez a quantidade de creme dental colocada na escova. No terceiro momento, uma medida com perguntas foi aplicada. Nos três momentos foram aplicados Recordatórios de 24 horas (R24h). Os dados obtidos a partir das perguntas contidas na medida indireta, R24h, e medidas diretas relacionadas ao consumo de creme dental foram comparados. Para isso, foram calculados os valores ponderados da estatística Kappa. Resultados - Os dados obtidos a partir das perguntas contidas na medida indireta foram comparados com as estimativas produzidas pela medida direta. Frequência de escovação correspondente a três ou mais vezes ao dia, aferida por meio da medida indireta, foi indicada por 73,7 por cento dos adolescentes, enquanto por meio da medida direta, 55,3 por cento dos adolescentes foram incluídos nessa categoria, uma estimativa 18,4 por cento menor. Por meio dos dados coletados em três R24h, verificou-se que o líquido mais ingerido entre os adolescentes foi a água, seguido respectivamente de refrigerante, leite, suco/bebida artificial, chá/café e o suco natural. Tanto para a água quanto para o refrigerante, observou-se ligeira concordância e uma nítida tendência de superestimação da ingestão aferida pela medida autoaplicável de seis itens. Conclusões - Pode-se afirmar que as evidências empíricas sustentam a hipótese de que a frequência de uso de creme dental depende do nível de escolaridade de um dos pais ou de ambos, e a maior porcentagem dos usuários de creme dental fluoretado pertence a um grupo socioeconomicamente mais favorecido. A medida indireta pode levar a uma superestimação dos valores de frequência de escovação e valores de água e bebidas ingeridas. Recomenda-se que as estimativas produzidas por medida indireta semelhante à testada neste estudo sejam consideradas com cautela / Background - The use of toothpaste, toothbrush, toothbrushing frequency, water and beverage intake represent exposures to oral health. This frequency has been estimated at population level by means of indirect assessment instruments, however, their validity is not known, and there is a lack of instruments. Objective - To analyze the empirical evidence found on the association between the frequency of toothpaste use and the different levels of income and education; to determine the validity of indirect instruments of the amount of toothpaste used, the size of the brush head and the toothbrushing frequency using toothpaste; to compare a self-administered instrument used to measure water and beverage intake by teenagers with 24-hour dietary recalls. Methods - A systematic review of the literature was conducted using the PubMed and Embase databases looking for empirical evidence on the association between the frequency of toothpaste usage and the different levels of income and education. In 2011, a sub-sample of school teenagers between the ages of 13 to 16 years, residents in the city of Piracicaba (SP), was selected from a representative sample of the population that participated in a cross-sectional study on the risk of obesity in adolescents (FAPESP 06/61085-0). This procedure ensured the same characteristics of the sample for the sub-sample of teenagers participating in the study. After pre-testing the instruments, a validation study, divided into three time periods at 15 day intervals, was conducted with each participant. Firstly, weight and height data were collected, participants received a tube of toothpaste and the amount of toothpaste usually placed on the brush was measured. Secondly, the toothpaste tube was collected and the amount of toothpaste on the brush was measured again. Thirdly, a questionnaire was used. During these time periods, 24-hour dietary recalls were applied. Data obtained from both direct and indirect instruments were compared. To do so, the values of weighted Kappa were calculated. Results - Data provided by the questions contained in the indirect instrument were compared to those produced by the direct instrument. Frequency of toothbrushing three or more times a day calculated by an indirect instrument was referred to by 73.7 per cent of teenagers; 55.3 per cent of teenagers were included in this category using an indirect instrument (18.4 per cent lower). Data provided by the three 24-hour recalls showed that water was the most ingested liquid among teenagers, followed by milk, juice/soft drinks, tea/coffee and natural juices. For both water and soft drinks, there was a slight agreement and a significant trend for overestimation of intake calculated by a 6-item self-administered instrument. Conclusion - The empirical evidence supports the hypothesis that the frequency of toothpaste usage depends on the level of education of one parent or both, and the highest percentage of fluoride toothpaste users belong to those groups with the highest socioeconomic status. An indirect instrument can overestimate the values of toothbrushing frequency and those of water and drink intake. The estimates provided by the indirect instrument, similar to that tested in this study, should be considered with caution

O objetivo principal deste estudo é a análise do atendimento de denúncias pela Subgerência de Vigilância Sanitária de Alimentos (SVA/Covisa/SMS-SP), no ano de 2011, discorrendo sobre as principais dificuldades enfrentadas no exercício dessa atividade. Como objetivo secundário buscou-se demonstrar a importância da integração entre os setores público e privado para que o atendimento seja realizado com maior eficiência e eficácia, superando as limitações dos procedimentos administrativos do Código Sanitário Municipal, da Lei Municipal n° 13.725/04. A coleta de dados foi obtida por meio de quatro métodos de pesquisa disponíveis, documentos escritos e sistemas de registros informatizados do setor. A interpretação baseou-se nos resultados obtidos e na experiência profissional. Concluiu-se que os problemas enfrentados no atendimento de denúncias estão relacionados com algumas imperfeições nos sistemas de registro e do procedimento administrativo, recursos humanos escassos, gerenciamento ineficaz, falta de recursos materiais e falta de maior integração e comunicação entre os órgãos públicos e os setores relacionados / The main goal of this study is the complaints attendance analysis by Subgerência de Vigilância Sanitária de Alimentos, wich reports to Coordenação de Vigilância em Saúde - Secretaria da Saúde de São Paulo on 2011, discussing the main difficulties in this practice . As a secondary goal, we sought to demonstrate the importance of integration between the public and private sector, so that the service can be made more efficiently and effectively, overcoming the limitations of the administrative procedures of the Municipal Health Code, Municipal Law No. 13.725/04. Data collection was obtained through four research methods available in written documents and computerized records systems sector. The interpretation was based on the results and professional experience. It was concluded that the problems faced in attendance of complaints are related to some imperfections in the system registry and the administrative procedure, scarce human resources, ineffective management, lack of material resources and lack of higher integration and communication between government agencies and related sectors

Introdução - O uso do creme dental, da escova dental, a frequência de escovação e ingestão de água e bebidas representam exposições relacionadas à saúde bucal. Essa frequência em populações tem sido estimada por meio de medidas indiretas; entretanto, a validade dessa forma de mensuração não é conhecida e há carência de instrumentos para sua mensuração em nível populacional. Objetivos - Revisar as evidências empíricas sobre a relação entre a frequência de uso de creme dental e os diferentes níveis de renda e escolaridade. Determinar a validade da medida indireta da quantidade de creme dental utilizado, do tamanho da cabeça da escova e da frequência de escovação com creme dental. Comparar uma medida autoaplicável sobre ingestão de água e bebidas por adolescentes com Recordatórios de 24 horas. Procedimentos Metodológicos - Uma revisão sistemática da literatura foi realizada utilizando-se as bases de dados Pubmed e Embase, buscando evidências empíricas sobre a relação entre a frequência de uso de creme dental e os diferentes níveis de renda e escolaridade. Uma subamostra de escolares na faixa etária de 13 a 16 anos de idade, em 2011, residentes no município de Piracicaba (SP), foi selecionada a partir de uma amostra representativa da população que participou de um estudo transversal sobre risco de obesidade em adolescentes (FAPESP 06/61085-0). Com este procedimento assegurou-se as mesmas características da amostra na subamostra de adolescentes participantes do estudo de validade. Após pré-teste dos instrumentos, um estudo de validação dividido em três momentos em intervalos de 15 dias foi conduzido com cada sujeito da pesquisa. No primeiro momento foram coletados os dados de peso/estatura, foi entregue um tubo de creme dental e também foi aferida a quantidade de creme dental habitualmente colocada na escova. No segundo momento, o tubo de creme dental usado foi recolhido e foi aferida pela segunda vez a quantidade de creme dental colocada na escova. No terceiro momento, uma medida com perguntas foi aplicada. Nos três momentos foram aplicados Recordatórios de 24 horas (R24h). Os dados obtidos a partir das perguntas contidas na medida indireta, R24h, e medidas diretas relacionadas ao consumo de creme dental foram comparados. Para isso, foram calculados os valores ponderados da estatística Kappa. Resultados - Os dados obtidos a partir das perguntas contidas na medida indireta foram comparados com as estimativas produzidas pela medida direta. Frequência de escovação correspondente a três ou mais vezes ao dia, aferida por meio da medida indireta, foi indicada por 73,7 por cento dos adolescentes, enquanto por meio da medida direta, 55,3 por cento dos adolescentes foram incluídos nessa categoria, uma estimativa 18,4 por cento menor. Por meio dos dados coletados em três R24h, verificou-se que o líquido mais ingerido entre os adolescentes foi a água, seguido respectivamente de refrigerante, leite, suco/bebida artificial, chá/café e o suco natural. Tanto para a água quanto para o refrigerante, observou-se ligeira concordância e uma nítida tendência de superestimação da ingestão aferida pela medida autoaplicável de seis itens. Conclusões - Pode-se afirmar que as evidências empíricas sustentam a hipótese de que a frequência de uso de creme dental depende do nível de escolaridade de um dos pais ou de ambos, e a maior porcentagem dos usuários de creme dental fluoretado pertence a um grupo socioeconomicamente mais favorecido. A medida indireta pode levar a uma superestimação dos valores de frequência de escovação e valores de água e bebidas ingeridas. Recomenda-se que as estimativas produzidas por medida indireta semelhante à testada neste estudo sejam consideradas com cautela / Background - The use of toothpaste, toothbrush, toothbrushing frequency, water and beverage intake represent exposures to oral health. This frequency has been estimated at population level by means of indirect assessment instruments, however, their validity is not known, and there is a lack of instruments. Objective - To analyze the empirical evidence found on the association between the frequency of toothpaste use and the different levels of income and education; to determine the validity of indirect instruments of the amount of toothpaste used, the size of the brush head and the toothbrushing frequency using toothpaste; to compare a self-administered instrument used to measure water and beverage intake by teenagers with 24-hour dietary recalls. Methods - A systematic review of the literature was conducted using the PubMed and Embase databases looking for empirical evidence on the association between the frequency of toothpaste usage and the different levels of income and education. In 2011, a sub-sample of school teenagers between the ages of 13 to 16 years, residents in the city of Piracicaba (SP), was selected from a representative sample of the population that participated in a cross-sectional study on the risk of obesity in adolescents (FAPESP 06/61085-0). This procedure ensured the same characteristics of the sample for the sub-sample of teenagers participating in the study. After pre-testing the instruments, a validation study, divided into three time periods at 15 day intervals, was conducted with each participant. Firstly, weight and height data were collected, participants received a tube of toothpaste and the amount of toothpaste usually placed on the brush was measured. Secondly, the toothpaste tube was collected and the amount of toothpaste on the brush was measured again. Thirdly, a questionnaire was used. During these time periods, 24-hour dietary recalls were applied. Data obtained from both direct and indirect instruments were compared. To do so, the values of weighted Kappa were calculated. Results - Data provided by the questions contained in the indirect instrument were compared to those produced by the direct instrument. Frequency of toothbrushing three or more times a day calculated by an indirect instrument was referred to by 73.7 per cent of teenagers; 55.3 per cent of teenagers were included in this category using an indirect instrument (18.4 per cent lower). Data provided by the three 24-hour recalls showed that water was the most ingested liquid among teenagers, followed by milk, juice/soft drinks, tea/coffee and natural juices. For both water and soft drinks, there was a slight agreement and a significant trend for overestimation of intake calculated by a 6-item self-administered instrument. Conclusion - The empirical evidence supports the hypothesis that the frequency of toothpaste usage depends on the level of education of one parent or both, and the highest percentage of fluoride toothpaste users belong to those groups with the highest socioeconomic status. An indirect instrument can overestimate the values of toothbrushing frequency and those of water and drink intake. The estimates provided by the indirect instrument, similar to that tested in this study, should be considered with caution

Thesis (M.Ed.) (Clinical Psychology) --University of Limpopo, 2008. / There is a considerable literature linking aspects of personality, parenting, and risk behaviors such as alcohol abuse. Three hundred African university students participated in a study of the relationship between personality, assessed with the NEO PI-R (Costa & McCrae, 1992), and alcohol use. Personality traits did not predict alcohol use among the students. It was also predicted that the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI; Parker, Tupling, & Brown, 1979) would mediate the relationship between personality and alcohol use. Results of the current study revealed no significant relationship between parenting and alcohol use. The results are discussed with regards the use of the NEO PI-R’s validity in the population used. Keyword: Five Factor Model; Parental bonding; Abstainers; Moderate drinkers; Heavy drinkers. / N/A

D. Tech. Food Technology. / Discusses a range of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria were isolated from functional food products and pharmaceutical preparations and also obtained from culture collections. They were then subjected to phylogenetic analysis for accurate identification and classification and the probiotic properties of the organisms was evaluated. The isolates were then screened for inhibitory activity against a range of pathogenic bacteria and Candida albicans strains. Selected isolates that were found to have the necessary inhibitory and probiotic properties were recommended for inclusion in an envisaged synbiotic, maize-based beverage that would, in a subsequent study, be subjected to a nutritional intervention trial aimed at alleviating oral thrush in human patients. The specific objectives: to investigate and illustrate the superiority of rpoA and pheS gene sequencing compared to 16S rRNA gene sequencing in the identification and phylogenic assignment of Lactobacillus isolates ; to determine the precision of selected protein-coding gene sequencing in comparison with 16S rRNA gene sequencing for the discrimination and phylogenetic analysis of Bifidobacterium isolates ; to investigate the probiotic properties of selected bacterial strains in terms of antibacterial activity, anti-Candida activity, acid resistance, bile tolerance and antibiotic resistance ; to determine the potential of Lactobacillus isolates to inhibit the growth of each of seven Candida albicans strains in fermented maize gruel and to establish the factors contributing to Candida inhibition and to determine the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of intracellular extracts and to elucidate compounds in methanol extracts from selected Lactobacillus strains.

The objective of the study was to augment important findings from a 1996 statewide survey of Indiana pharmacists regarding their opinions and practices related to the sale of cigarettes and alcohol in pharmacies. More specifically, this study was designed (1) to determine opinions and practices of Kentucky pharmacists' related to the sale of cigarettes and alcohol; (2) compare these findings with results from the Indiana study; and (3) to gather information on health promotion activities by Kentucky pharmacists. A structured survey questionnaire was designed and reviewed by a jury of experts and subsequently administered to half of the 1182 pharmacies in Kentucky. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods.Findings reveal that 45% of responding pharmacists sell cigarettes in their stores although 88% think their stores should not sell cigarettes. Approximately 34% of pharmacies in non-dry counties sell alcoholic beverages while more than four-fifths of the pharmacists (81%) think pharmacies should not sell alcoholic beverages. After adjusting by type of pharmacy, no statistical difference was found in retail-chain pharmacy sales of cigarettes and alcohol in either Kentucky or Indiana. However, independent pharmacies in Kentucky were less likely to sell cigarettes and alcohol compared to independent Indiana pharmacies. Study results also revealed that most pharmacists agree the use of cigarettes and alcohol are important causes of morbidity and pre-mature mortality and that pharmacists should play a role in health promotion and disease prevention through their relationship with the public. / Department of Physiology and Health Science

[Formulae and special characters can only be approximated here. Please see the pdf version of the abstract for an accurate reproduction.] Two randomised controlled trials were conducted to explore the relationship between the consumption of alcoholic beverages and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Study 1 was primarily designed to test the hypothesis that the cardio-protective effect of light alcohol could be mediated, in part, via improvements in endothelial function. Study 1 was also designed to explore the effect of alcohol on both traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as changes in lipid profile, haemostatic factors and blood pressure, and novel risk factors such as homocysteine, markers of inflammation and oxidative stress. The experimental design of this study also allowed us to determine whether reducing alcohol intake in these moderate-to-heavy drinkers could improvement insulin sensitivity, a component of the metabolic syndrome. In this group of sixteen healthy middle-aged men with a history of moderate to heavy alcohol intake of seven standard drinks per day, reducing intake down to approximately one standard drink per day for four weeks had no beneficial effects on conduit vessel endothelial function as assessed by post-ischaemic brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation, nor were there any detectable changes in soluble E-selectin, endothelin-1 and von Willebrand Factor, which are considered biomarkers of endothelial activation. As this study did not investigate the effect of alcohol on endothelial function in resistance vessels, it cannot exclude the possibility that alcohol may affect endothelial cells resident in that vascular bed. This study does show and confirm, however, that the relationship between alcohol and risk factors for cardiovascular disease is an extremely complex one. On the one hand it demonstrated that alcohol was potentially harmful, increasing blood pressure, plasma F2-isoprostane (oxidative stress), and homocysteine. On the other hand it showed that increasing alcohol intake led to significant reductions in two (i.e. fibrinogen and IL-6) of five inflammatory markers, in addition to improving the HDL-cholesterol profile of these subjects. Although the effects of alcohol on blood pressure, fibrinogen and HDL-cholesterol are not in themselves new, they support our choice of study design and strengthen the argument in favour of accepting the more novel findings of this study, specifically, the lack of effect on endothelial function and insulin sensitivity, and the harmful effect of alcohol in increasing oxidative stress and homocysteine. Study 2 was primarily designed to test the hypothesis that the consumption of red wine may confer greater cardio-protection than beer via improvements in endothelial function. Simultaneously, the study was also designed to determine whether drinking red wine for 4-weeks would have different effects than beer on either traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease (i.e. blood pressure and lipid profile) or the more novel risk factors, homocysteine and oxidative stress. Using a randomised controlled cross-over study design, Study 2 provides evidence that the regular daily consumption of 4 standard drinks of either beer or red wine does not alter endothelial function, as measured by post-ischaemic flow-mediated vasodilatation of the brachial artery in healthy middle-aged men, nor was there evidence of any beneficial effect of de-alcoholised red wine on brachial artery response. As compliance with drinking protocol was confirmed with increased serum γ-GT and HDL during red wine and beer periods, and increased 24-hr urinary excretion of 4OMGA during red wine and de-alcoholised red wine periods, we are confident that there was excellent compliance with the beverage treatments. Study 2 also provides the first evidence from a carefully controlled intervention study that both red wine and beer elevate blood pressure to a similar degree, with no detectable difference in the magnitude of either treatment. As with endothelial function, there was also no evidence of any beneficial effect of de-alcoholised red wine on blood pressure. In addition, although post hoc analysis found evidence that alcohol increased both plasma homocysteine and urinary excretion of F2-isoprostane and endothelin-1, there was no apparent protective effect conferred from either red wine or de-alcoholised red wine on these cardiovascular risk markers. The results from this study cannot disprove the hypothesis that red wine is more beneficial for cardiovascular health; however, they suggest that if red wine has properties beyond those of beer to confer protection, they are not via any interactions with the nitric oxide regulatory function of the endothelium in conduit vessels nor are they via moderation of the vasopressor, homocysteine-raising, and oxidative stress effects of alcohol. The interpretation of the findings from both intervention studies and their place in the context of our current understanding of the role that alcoholic beverages play in the development and/or prevention of cardiovascular disease are explored in this thesis.

[Truncated abstract] This thesis consists of six chapters, and the main research contributions are contained in chapters two through five inclusive. The topics addressed in each chapter are distinct, but related, and the specific contributions to knowledge made by the different chapters are related to: (i) understanding more fully the nature of the demand for alcohol; (ii) explaining the relationship between reputation characteristics and consumers’ willingness to pay for wine; (iii) estimating the rate of return to Australian wine; and (iv) using financial analysis to reveal the risk diversification benefits available by including wine in an investment portfolio. The details of each contribution are briefly outlined below. Chapter 2 discusses the nature of the demand for alcohol. The demand for alcoholic beverages is an area much studied, and there are numerous studies estimating the own-price elasticity of alcoholic beverages. A review of relevant published studies indicates reported: beer own-price elasticity estimates range from -.02 to -3.00, with a mean estimate value of -.46, and standard deviation of -.41 (n = 139); wine own-price elasticity estimates range from -.05 to -3.00, with a mean estimate value of -.72, and standard deviation of .53 (n = 140); and spirits own-price elasticity estimates range from -.01 to -2.18, with a mean estimate value of -.74, and standard deviation of .47 (n = 136). Chapter 2 contributes to understanding the demand for alcohol, not by adding yet another set of elasticity estimates to an already substantial literature, but by providing a framework through which all known own-price elasticity estimates can be understood. Specifically, a meta-regression framework is employed to study previously published own-price elasticity estimates. This framework allows the effect of model design attributes to be isolated, and the underlying trend in consumer responses to price changes to be identified.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, 1998. / At foot of title: Its origins, development, rationale and implications with performance script, performance video, reviews, evaluation and potential as a therapeutic paradigm considered. "Offered in submission for a Doctorate of Philosophy in the School of Social Ecology, University of Western Sydney" Bibliography : leaves 268-275.