Call number: LD2668 .T4 1984 Y33 / Master of Science

Many cities across the globe are working to facilitate cycling as a sustainable transportation mode through changes to public policy and investments in infrastructure. Examining the costs and benefits of both driving and cycling using the cost benefit analysis (CBA) framework developed in Copenhagen provides an opportunity to identify private and social costs associated with these modes of transport with respect to environmental, social, and economic impacts. This paper outlines the methods used to calculate the per-kilometre costs of driving and cycling in Calgary, Canada, utilizing real-world data and methods from Canadian and global best-practice with the Copenhagen CBA framework as a guide. Transportation costs were calculated for travel time, vehicle ownership, health, collisions, air pollution, climate change, noise, roadway degradation, congestion, and winter maintenance for both driving and cycling. When the costs borne by both individuals and society are calculated for Calgary (in 2015 Canadian dollars) driving costs $0.83 per kilometre and cycling costs $0.08 per kilometre. When the social costs of transport are isolated, the cost of driving one kilometre is $0.10, while cycling one kilometre generates a net social benefit of $0.35. The results of this research show that the Copenhagen CBA framework can be applied in jurisdictions outside Denmark to calculate environmental, social, and economic costs of driving and cycling.

U.S.-based Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) face significant competitive forces including market-based pressures in the form of new and increased competition, an escalating cost base and reduced financial aid sources. The practice of customer loyalty development and the study of the loyalty phenomena are prevalent in the marketing literature. Despite the prevalence of studies focusing on relationship marketing concepts and loyalty as drivers of customer retention, little progress has been made in conceptualizing and testing frameworks that can explain the impact of relationship marketing on attitudinal and behavioral loyalty in an IHE setting. This study proposed a relationship marketing approach towards the challenge of increasing student loyalty and thus ultimately student retention. Both offensive (relationship marketing concepts aimed at increasing trust, commitment and perceived value) and defensive (subjective norms and switching costs) strategies were proposed as antecedents of student loyalty. Several existing marketing and organizational behavior scales were modified for use in an IHE environment. Research into the dynamics of relationship marketing in a real-world setting was conducted to (1) confirm the scales for use in the IHE environment , (2) to broaden the settings in which the selected scales have been deployed, and (3) to offer depth to the relationship marketing and loyalty field of study. A survey was administered in three South Florida IHEs and 549 responses were collected. The use of structural equation modeling permitted the researcher to establish the measurement validity of the relationship marketing survey instrument and the statistical reliability and validity of the of the proposed variables. There were significant relationships noted between: trust and perceived value; perceived value and commitment; commitment and loyalty; front line employee behaviors and trust; and management policies and procedures and trust; confirming past studies. However, counter to past research, results showed no significant relationship between subjective norms and commitment. Some of the limitations from previous research were addressed by proposing a more integrated model that combined both offensive and defensive marketing constructs. Future research is needed to determine the causes for the lack of statistical significance for the proposed defensive marketing strategies.

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Daylighting is fast emerging globally as a popular clean energy technology to compliment artificial electrical lighting. Unlike traditional artificial lighting, however, the variability of the sun due to geographical, geometrical and climatic variations presents a major challenge to engineers and architects involved in daylighting system design, particularly for critical tasks such as reading. This project evolved out of the need to be able to fully describe the performance of daylighting applications in order to aid and validate the design, improvement and installation of such systems. The primary focus of the project was to design, develop and test a system that is able to record and convey the variability of light, within an interior space, in terms of the spatial and time domains for the monitoring of daylighting applications, at a fraction of the cost of similar commercially available systems. Several potential sensors underwent stringent selection and testing procedures to determine which would meet the project requirements. The selected Sharp GA1A2S100LY sensing device proved to be the most suitable and was developed and included in a microcontroller based system to record illumination levels at multiple locations simultaneously. The sensor was selected and developed to match the spectral sensitivity of the human eye within the range of 0-1500 lux. The PIC18F8722 Explorer Demonstration Board manufactured by Microchip was selected to control all system operations. The board interfaces with each illuminance sensor and records the measured data, in text format in a .txt file on an SD card, in the PICtail daughter board SD card module. The system was able to record data from 64 sensors, simultaneously, at predefined time intervals and to store it for later processing. The data was then refined and used to generate easy to interpret visual representations of the illumination characteristics of the measured area as a function of time. The data is imported from the SD card text file to Microsoft Excel where a constant, predetermined, correction factor is applied to the data. A MATLAB program was developed to read the corrected data from the Excel spreadsheet and give an animated display of the progression of the illumination characteristics over the period for which the measurements were taken. Testing conducted with the system was done in an area supplied with daylight from two passive zenithal light pipes. The use of the system, under these conditions, proved effective with the system able to accurately convey the hourly, daily and seasonal variability of light within the measured area over a period of time. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dagbeligting ontwikkel teen 'n hoë pas wêreldwyd as 'n gewilde vorm van skoon energie tegnologie. Die doel van dagbeligting is om kunsmatige elektriese beligting aan te vul. In teenstelling met tradisionele kunsmatige beligting, bied die die son 'n verskeidenheid van groot uitdagings vir ingenieurs en argitekte betrokke in die ontwerp van 'n dagbeligting stelsel, veral vir take van kritieke belang insluitend die vermoë om te kan lees. Uitdagings sluit in: Geografiese-, geometriese-, asook klimaatstoestand veranderlikes. Hierdie projek het ontwikkel vanuit die behoefte om ten volle die werksverrigting van dagbeligting toepassings te kan beskryf om sodoende die ontwerp, bevordering en installering van dagbeligting stelsels te steun en te bevestig. Die hooffokus van die projek was om 'n stelsel te ontwerp, ontwikkel en te toets wat die vermoë het om die veranderlikheid van lig, binne 'n binneruimte, in terme van ruimtelike- en tydsdomeine op te neem en hierdie oor te dra vir die monitor van dagbeligting toepassings, teen 'n fraksie van die koste van 'n soortgelyke kommersieel beskikbare stelsel. Verskeie moontlike sensors het streng keuring- en toetsprosedures ondergaan om te bepaal watter sensors aan die projek vereistes sal voldoen. Die sensor wat gevind was as die mees toepaslike, bepaal deur die resultate verkry vanaf die keuring- en toetsprosedures, was die Sharp GA1A2S100LY sensor toestel. Hierdie toestel was ontwikkel en ingesluit in 'n mikroverwerker beheerstelsel om beligtingsvlakke by verskeie liggings terselfdertyd op te neem. Verder, was die sensor gekies en ontwikkel om die spektrale sensitiwiteit van die menslike oog te ewenaar, binne die reik van 0 – 1500 lux. Die PIC18F8722 Explore Demonstration Board vervaardig deur Microchip was gekies om alle stelsel bedrywighede te beheer. Die bord kommunikeer met elke illuminansievlaksensor en neem die gemete data op, in teks formaat in 'n .txt lêer wat dan op 'n SD kaart gestoor word, in die PICtail Daughter Board SD kaart module. Die stelsel kon data van 64 sensors, gelyktydig, opneem by voorafbepaalde tydsintervalle en dit dan stoor vir verdere verwerking later. Die data was dan verfyn en gebruik om maklik-om-te- interpreteer visuele voorstellings van die beligtingseienskappe van die gemete area as 'n funksie van tyd te genereer. Die data, gestoor as 'n .txt lêer, word ingevoer van die SD kaard in Microsoft Excel in waar 'n konstante, voorafbepaalde regstellingsfaktor op die data toegepas word. A MATLAB program was ontwikkel om die gekorrigeerde data te lees vanaf die Excel werkblad en 'n geanimeerde voorstelling, van die vordering van die beligtingseienskappe oor die tydperk waarvoor die lesings geneem was, terug te voer. Toetse uitgevoer met die stelsel was uitgevoer in 'n vertrek, voorsien met daglig van twee passiewe “zenithal” beligtingspype. Die gebruik van die stelsel, onder hierdie kondisies, blyk effektief. Die stelsel is in staat om akkuraat die uurlikse, daaglikse, asook die seisoensveranderlikheid van lig, binne die afgemete area oor ʼn tydperk van tyd, weer te gee.

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study attempts to establish the determinants of house prices in Namibia and their implications foraffordability of houses. The study made use of the ARDL time series model. The study established that the seven variables in the study are cointegrated. The cointegration results enabled the specification and estimation of the ARDL Error Correction Model. The results established that gross domestic product and interest rates are important in explaining the variations in house prices in the short run. Ironically, money supply and inflation, which are closely linked, were found not to affect house prices in the short run. In addition, national domestic credit, which was used as a proxy for total mortgages advanced in the country,wasnot a significant explanation of house prices in the short run. The study also established that the independent variables included in the ARDL Error Correction Model collectively influence house prices in Namibia in the long run. The implication of this is that policies that are meant to influence house prices in the long term can actually target any one or a combination of the variables included in the study. The main recommendation emanating from the study is that the government should redouble its efforts to provide affordable land and housing to the lower and/or middle income households in Namibia.

published_or_final_version / Industrial Engineering / Master / Master of Science in Engineering

published_or_final_version / Real Estate and Construction / Master / Master of Science in Construction Project Management

Successful treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) leads to significant benefits in both hepatic and extrahepatic morbidity and mortality. However, treatment is costly and onerous. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the resource utilization and healthcare costs of chronic HCV patients who are treated versus those who are not treated. Patients eligible for this study were Texas Medicaid patients ≥18 and ≤63 years who had evidence of chronic HCV during the identification period (1/1/07-9/30/11) and continuous enrollment throughout the analysis period. High dimensional propensity scoring techniques were used to match treated vs. untreated patients (1:2 ratio). Unadjusted and adjusted analyses compared the healthcare costs and utilization between patient cohorts at 6 and 18 months. For those treated, adherence was measured by proportion of days covered and persistence was evaluated as a gap in medication (of one fill) as determined by refill records. There were a total of 24,032 patients identified with chronic HCV. After high dimensional propensity scoring, there were no significant differences in key clinical and demographic characteristics between treated (n=939) and untreated (n=1878) cohorts. Over 97% of patients had evidence of end stage liver disease at baseline. Based on adjusted analyses of total costs using a generalized linear regression model, the mean difference in costs between the treated vs. untreated patients was $13,960 (SE $458, p<0.001). At 18 months of follow-up, the adjusted mean all-cause costs were $20,834 higher for treated patients (n=456) compared to those untreated (n=849) (p<0.001); however, mean outpatient costs were $1,894 (SE $274) less in treated vs. untreated patients. For those treated, the average HCV medication PDC was 71%, and by the end of 24 weeks, only 42.3% of patients remained on HCV therapy. This study did not show short-term cost offsets, but the sub-analysis following patients for 18 months showed trends in downstream cost offsets. Most patients had advanced liver disease, reducing the chances of successful treatment and averting liver disease sequelae. Earlier identification and treatment could bend the cost curve before these patients reached the more advanced stages seen in this costly cohort. / text

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of Medicare Part D coverage on medication adherence and health outcomes in dialysis patients. A retrospective analysis (2006-2010) using the United States Renal Data System was conducted for Medicare-eligible dialysis patients. Cardiovascular disease morbidity, healthcare utilization and expenditures, medication adherence, and mortality rates were compared, categorized based on patients’ Part D coverage in 2007 for those who: 1) did not reach the coverage gap (cohort 1); 2) reached the coverage gap but not catastrophic coverage (cohort 2); 3) reached catastrophic coverage (cohort 3); and 4) did not reach the coverage gap but received a low-income subsidy (cohort 4). Cox proportional hazards models, Kaplan-Meier methods, logistic regressions, generalized linear models, and generalized estimating equations were used. A total of 11,732 patients were included as meeting inclusion criteria: 1) cohort 1: 3,678 patients had out-of-pocket drug costs <$799; 2) cohort 2: 4,349 patients had out-of-pocket drug costs between $799 and $3,850; 3) cohort 3: 1,310 patients had out-of-pocket drug costs > $3,850; and 4) cohort 4: the remaining 2,395 patients had out-of-pocket drug costs <$799 but received a low-income subsidy. After adjusting for demographic and clinical factors, patients in cohort 2 and cohort 3 had 42 percent and 36 percent increased risk of cardiovascular disease (odds ratio (OR)=1.42, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.20-1.67; OR=1.38, 95% CI:1.10-1.72); and had 36 percent and 37 percent higher death rates compared to those in cohort 4, respectively (hazard ratio (HR)=1.36, 95% CI:1.27-1.44; HR=1.37, 95% CI:1.27-1.48). Patients in cohort 2 were more likely to be nonadherent to medications for diabetes (OR=1.72, 95% CI:1.48-1.99), hypertension (OR=1.69, 95% CI:1.54-1.85), hyperlipidemia (OR=2.01, 95% CI:1.76-2.29), hyperphosphatemia (OR=1.74, 95% CI:1.55-1.95), and hyperparathyroidism (OR=2.08, 95% CI:1.66-2.60) after reaching the coverage gap. These patients had total health care costs that were $2,644 higher due to increased rates of hospitalization and outpatient visits, despite $2,419 lower pharmacy costs compared to patients in cohort 4 after controlling for covariates (p<0.0001). Reaching the Part D coverage gap was associated with decreased medication adherence and unfavorable clinical and economic outcomes in dialysis patients. / text

<p>One of the best ways to get expected results from information technology (IT) in a business organization is to have a close look at the financial issues related to it. Financial issues such as IT investment, IT costs, IT resources should be dealt with special care if any organization wants to get best result from its IT systems. The purpose of this research is to investigate the condition of IT financial issues such as IT investment, IT costs, IT resources, IT business value etc. in the selected seven organizations of Sweden and to have an understanding behind the condition. First of all, a survey has been conducted with nine IT managers from these seven organizations to get an overview of the condition of dealing with various IT financial issues. Then follow-up interviews have been conducted with four of those IT managers that took part in the survey to find out the reason behind the condition dealing with those IT financial issues. The results of the study show that most the seven companies do not have proper capital budgeting technique, benefit identification plan for IT investment. Most of them do not calculate all the IT related costs. Most of them have lack of knowledge about the business value of IT. Their knowledge of impact of IT resources is not clear. The study further shows why those seven companies are having that kind of condition regarding the IT related financial issues.</p>