The human-induced changes of the Earth's land surfaces have been unprecedented, with outcomes often indicating degradation and loss of environmental quality. Mato Grosso State in Brazil, location of the study area, underwent extensive land-use and land-cover changes in recent decades with the rates, patterns and consequences poorly documented until now. In this context, the aim of the present research is to propose a multidisciplinary approach for quantifying historical land-use and environmental changes in the southeast part of this State, where the Cerrado biome (Brazilian savannas) has been intensively converted into agricultural lands. The methodology includes three parts: remote sensing change detection, land vulnerability mapping, and identification of key environmental indicators. Land-use/cover information was extracted from a temporal remote sensing dataset using an object-oriented classification approach, and the changes quantified employing a post-classification method. In addition, the study area was assessed for its vulnerabilities, focusing mainly on erosion risks, wetlands, and areas with limited or no suitability for crops. Finally, key environmental indicators were identified from the preceding steps and analyzed within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Pressure-State-Response (PSR) framework. The results provided an improved mapping of the Cerrados natural vegetation conversion into crops and pastures, and indicate that the Cerrado vegetation was intensively converted and also became more fragmented in the time frame studied. Between 1985 and 2005 the area lost approximately 6491 km 2 of Cerrados (42 %). Modeling based on the Universal Soil Loss Equation indicated significant increase in erosion risk from 1985 to 2005 mainly related to the increase in crop areas and the crops' encroachment into more fragile lands.The identification of environmental indicators rendered complex environmental information more generally accessible by structuring it within the PSR framework.The indicators captured key information about land-use and environmental changes in the area, showing that agricultural expansion is the major human activity exerting pressure on natural resources at a landscape scale, and that the pattern of change included high rates of crop expansion and the use of fragile environments such as wetlands and sandy erodable soils.

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Frågor om miljö, mänskliga rättigheter, sociala förhållanden och motverkande av korruption får en allt större plats i diskussioner gällande företag. På grund av detta är det numera inte tillräckligt för företagen att endast tänka på konsekvenserna av deras egna handlingar, eller deras direkta leverantörer, utan företagen måste även ta hänsyn till alla andra företag i deras leverantörskedja. Utifrån detta har studiens syfte tagits fram, vilket är att analysera hur företag redovisar hållbarhetsinformation från sina underleverantörer. Vidare är syftet att undersöka vilka faktorer som kan ha betydelse för vilken och mängden hållbarhetsinformation, från underleverantörer, som redovisas. Dessa faktorer är bransch, som inte tidigare studerats, och storlek, vilket tidigare studerats men i väldigt liten omfattning. Studien har en positivistisk utgångspunkt och en kvantitativ metod där en deduktiv forskningsansats har tillämpats. Studiens empiriska material har samlats in från årsredovisningar och presenteras genom diagram samt tabeller. Analysen har gjorts genom att data ställs mot teorier samt tidigare forskning. Studiens resultat påvisar att de flesta företag som inkluderar hållbarhetsinformation i sin årsredovisning även inkluderar sina underleverantörer. Hos företag som redovisar sina underleverantörer, råder det stor variation på användningen av hållbarhetsindikatorer. Vidare visar resultatet att endast en av de undersökta faktorerna har betydelse på hur företagen redovisar hållbarhetsinformation från sina underleverantörer. Förslag till vidare forskning är inledningsvis att studera varför vissa företag inte redovisar hållbarhetsinformation angående deras underleverantörer. Vidare kan det vara intressant att om några år undersöka om någon praxis upprättats gällande redovisning av hållbarhetsinformation från underleverantörer. / Questions about environment, human rights, social conditions and anti-corruption are a growing area of discussions in business. Because of this, it is not enough for companies to just think about the consequences of their own actions, or their direct suppliers, companies also have to take all the other companies in their supply chain into consideration. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to describe how companies report sustainable information from their suppliers. Further, the purpose is to examine which factors can explain the amount of information from suppliers and which information the companies choose to report. These factors are line of business, which have not been investigated before, and the previous investigated factor size. The paper has a positivistic base and a quantitative method, and a deductive research approach has been applied. The paper’s empirical material are collected by annual reports and presented in charts and tables. The analysis has compared data to theories and previous research. The paper’s results indicate that most companies that include sustainability in their annual report also include their suppliers. There is a wide variation in the use of sustainability indicators for the companies who include their suppliers. Further, the results show that only one of the investigated factors can explain how the companies report sustainability information from their suppliers. Suggestions for future research is to investigate why some companies does not report sustainability information regarding their suppliers. Further, it would be interesting to study this in a few years, to see if any practice has been established regarding the companies reporting of sustainability information from the suppliers.

With rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations, a detailed understanding of processes that impact atmospheric CO2 fluxes is required. While a sink of atmospheric carbon from the continents to the ocean from carbonate mineral weathering is, to some degree, offset by carbonate mineral precipitation in the oceans, efforts are underway to make direct measurements of these fluxes. Measurement of the continental sink has two parts: 1) measurement of the dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) flux leaving a river basin, and 2) partitioning the inorganic carbon flux between the amount removed from the atmosphere and the portion from the bedrock. This study attempted to improve methods to measure the DIC flux using existing data to estimate the DIC flux from carbonate weathering within the limestone karst region of south central Kentucky. The DIC flux from the Barren River drainage basin upstream from Bowling Green in southern Kentucky and northern Tennessee, and the upper Green River drainage basin, upstream from Greensburg, Kentucky, was measured, each for a year, using U.S.G.S. discharge data and water-chemistry data from municipal water plants. A value of the (DIC) flux, normalized by time and area of carbonate rock, of 4.29 g km-3 day-1 was obtained for the Barren River, and 4.95 kg km-3 for the Green. These compared favorably with data obtained by Osterhoudt (2014) from two nested basins in the upper Green River with values of 5.66 kg km-3 day-1 and 5.82 kg km-3 day-1 upstream from Greensburg and Munfordville, respectively. Additional normalization of the values obtained in this study by average precipitation minus evapotranspiration over the area of carbonate rock, or water available for carbonate dissolution, resulted in values of 5.61x107 g C (km3 H20)- 1 day-1 (grams of carbon per cubic kilometer of water, per day) for the Barren, and 7.43x107g C (km3 H20)-1 day-1 for the Green River. Furthermore, a statistical relationship between the total DIC flux and time-volume of water available for dissolution has been observed, yielding an r2 value of 0.9478. This relationship indicates that the primary variables affecting DIC flux for these drainage basins are time and the volume of water available for dissolution.

Substance abuse has been identified internationally and in South Africa as an escalating problem that has harmful effects on the substance user and on society. The cost of treating substance-related disorders places a strain on the allocation of financial resources to treat the problem. When relapse occurs in substance users who have already undergone rehabilitation, it increases the costs of treatment. Waiting lists at treatment centres are also negatively affected for first-time admissions when relapsed substance users are re-admitted. The study aimed to identify relapse indicators by post-discharge follow-up of adult substance users in a registered, non-profit, state-subsidised treatment facility in Cape Town. Marlatt’s Dynamic model of relapse was used to explore the individual and socio-cultural factors which were potentially associated with relapse. A quantitative research design using archival data and purposive sampling was used to identify possible relapse indicators. The participants were ex-patients who had undergone an inpatient treatment programme and who had been followed up post discharge. Ethical clearance was obtained from the University of the Western Cape Higher Degrees Committee. Written permission was granted by the treatment centre who is the original data owner.The majority of participants were male. More than half of the sample reported polysubstance use and, for more than half of them, the age of onset of substance use was between 11 and 15 years. Severe depression was present for more than a third of the participants, whilst the majority of the sample was assessed as being substance dependent. A large proportion of patients had family members who also used substances. The majority of the sample was unemployed and more than half had received previous substance abuse treatment. Significant associations were not established between the identified variables within the groups of factors. Additional studies are required to explore the factors contributing to relapse in this patient population. / Magister Artium (Psychology) - MA(Psych)

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / Some digitised pages may appear cut off due to the condition of the original hard copy. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study analyses poverty and deprivation in Lesotho on the basis of data from two comprehensive household surveys undertaken in 1993 and 1999. The aim of this study was to create a better understanding of poverty and deprivation in Lesotho. The analysis shows that the mountain areas of Lesotho suffer the worst levels of poverty and inequality both in terms of income/consumption and non-income measures compared to the other areas of the country. Poverty was found to be highest amongst households with older heads and higher mean numbers of members. The poor were found to suffer from lack of resources, access to education, basic services such as clean water, proper sanitation facilities and modem energy sources, and have little access to productive resources. The study uses an income-based definition of poverty for most of the analysis. In addition, it develops a broad-based index of deprivation including access to services, education, employment, income, and number of durable assets and traditional wealth. While on average the two indicators correspond fairly closely, the income poverty measure fails to capture those households that are deprived of many of the non-income measures of well-being. The broader deprivation measure provides a more comprehensive understanding of poverty. The conclusions arrived at when the two measures are used show that the concepts and indicators that one uses to measure poverty and deprivation matter a lot in identifying the poor since different conceptions of poverty/deprivation identify different groups with different characteristics as poor. The results also suggest the need for the use of different measures of poverty. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie analiseer armoede en deprivasie in Lesotho na aanleiding van twee omvattende huishoudingopnames van 1993 en 1999. Die doel hiermee was om 'n meer omvattende begrip van armoede en deprivasie in Lesotho te verkry. Die analise toon dat die bergstreke van Lesotho, vergeleke met die res van die land, die hoogste mate van armoede en ongelykheid het, soos gemeet deur beide inkomste/verbruik en nie-inkomste gebaseerde maatstawwe van armoede. Armoede blyk die grootste te wees in huishoudings met meerderjarige hoofde asook in huishoudings met gemiddeld meer lede. Daar is ook gevind dat arm huishoudings gekenmerk word deur 'n gebrek aan hulpbronne, toegang tot opvoeding en basiese dienste soos skoon water, genoegsame sanitasiefasiliteite en moderne energiebronne, asook 'n beperkte toegang tot produksiehulpbronne. Die studie maak grotendeels gebruik van 'n inkomstegebaseerde definisie van armoede. 'n Breër indeks van deprivasie word ook ontwikkel wat onder andere insluit: toegang tot dienste, opvoeding, werksgeleenthede, inkomste, hoeveelheid bestendige bates en tradisionele rykdom. Alhoewel die twee indikatore relatief goed ooreenstem, kon die inkomste-gebaseerde meting van armoede nie daarin slaag om die huishoudings te onderskep wat geklassifiseer word as gedepriveerd op verskeie nie-inkomste indikatore van welvaart nie. Die breër indeks van deprivasie verskaf 'n meer omvattende begrip van armoede. Die gevolgtrekking wat hieruit gemaak word, is dat die konsepte en indikatore wat gebruik word om armoede en deprivasie te meet, van belang is in die identifisering van behoeftiges. Die rede hiervoor is dat verskillende konsepsies van armoede/deprivasie verskillende groepe met verskillende eienskappe identifiseer as behoeftiges. Die resultate suggereer dus 'n behoefte vir die gebruik van verskillende maatstawwe van armoede.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Tobin's q value is widely used by financial analysts as a performance indicator ratio. The market value of a firm over the replacement cost of fixed assets and inventory serves as an indication of whether value is created by investing internally in the firm, or whether value is destroyed by investing in negative net present value projects. Where Tobin's q is greater than one (q > 1), the market value of the firm is greater than what it would cost to replace fixed assets and inventory. Therefore value is created. Firms that have a Tobin's q value of less than one are advised to pay dividends rather than invest in negative net present value projects. Over 200 different methods exist of calculating Tobin's q. By increasing the complexity of the algorithm to determine q, very little is achieved to improve the measurement quality. A strong link exists between excess market returns, free cash flow spending announcements and Tobin's q value for the firm. Firms with a high Tobin's q value should ensure that good investment possibilities are pursued. The use of internal funds to fund new investment is viewed in a positive light by the market and above average returns are generated. Firms with a high Tobin's q value and high free cash flow show lower returns. These lower returns happen as a result of the market recognising the firm's failure to capitalise on favourable internal investment opportunities. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Tobin se q-waarde word wyd gebruik as prestasie aanwyser deur finansiele ontleders. Die markwaarde van 'n firma gedeel deur die vervangingskoste van vaste bates en voorraad, dien as 'n maatstaf om aan te dui of waarde geskep word deur intern in die firma te belê en of waarde vernietig word deur in projekte met 'n negatiewe netto teenswoordige waarde te belê. Waar Tobin se q-waarde groter is as een (q > 1) is die markwaarde van die firma groter as wat dit sal wees om die vaste bates en voorraad te vervang. Sodoende word waarde geskep. Firmas met 'n q-waarde van minder as een word aanbeveel om eeeder dividende uit te betaal as om die beskikbare fondse in projekte met 'n negatiewe netto teenswoordige waarde te investeer. Meer as 200 verskillende metodes bestaan om Tobin se q-waarde te bereken. Deur die kompleksiteit van die algoritme te vergroot om q te bereken, dra min by tot groter akkuraatheid van die meting. 'n Sterk verband bestaan tussen bo-gemiddelde markopbrengste, aankondigings oor die besteding van vrye kontantvloei en die Tobin q-waarde van die firma. Firmas met 'n hoë Tobin q-waarde moet verseker dat goeie investeringsgeleenthede aangegryp word. Die gebruik van interne fondse om nuwe investering te finansier word deur die mark in 'n positiewe lig beskou en bogemiddelde opbrengste word gelewer. Firmas met 'n hoë Tobin q-waarde en hoë vrye kontantvloei toon laer opbrengste. Hierdie laer opbrengste is as gevolg van die mark wat besef dat die firma nalaat om gunstige interne investeringsgeleenthede te gebruik.

published_or_final_version / Geography / Master / Master of Philosophy

A history of statistical economic indicators in America, this dissertation uncovers the protracted struggle which took place in the nineteenth century over how economic life should be quantified, how social progress should be valued and how American prosperity should be measured. By revealing the historical origins of contemporary indicators such as Gross Domestic Product, and by uncovering the alternative measures that ended up on the losing side of history, this work denaturalizes the seemingly objective nature of modern economic indicators while offering a fresh take on the rise of American capitalism.

Survey research was used to conduct a formative evaluation of Quality Indicators for Assistive Technology Services (QIAT) by 120 leaders in the field of assistive technology. Survey respondents represented five different types of assistive technology interest and responsibilities: consumers of assistive technology services and family members, district and regional assistive technology leaders, state and national assistive technology leaders, assistive technology leaders in higher education, and assistive technology policy leaders. Respondents reviewed QIAT and completed either print or online electronic versions of a survey in which they provided their perspectives on the need for quality indicators, the importance of each quality indicator contained in QIAT, the clarity of each accompanying intent statement, and the usefulness of QIAT to people with assistive technology interests and responsibilities similar to their own. Results of this investigation suggested that quality indicators are needed to guide the development and delivery of assistive technology services, that the 39 quality indicators contained in QIAT are important, and that QIAT would be useful to people with varied interests and responsibilities in assistive technology. The perceptions of the majority of the participants about QIAT were positive. Analysis of the rankings indicated that every quality indicator contained in QIAT was considered important by greater than 92% of the participants and every intent statement was considered clear by greater than 82% of the participants. Results also indicated that participants believed that some revisions in the wording and reordering of the items contained in QIAT would increase clarity and that the identification and development of training and products aligned to QIAT could aid in the development and delivery of effective assistive technology services. Proposed revisions were made in QIAT as a result of respondent recommendations. Implications for practice, future development, and additional research also were proposed.