Postpartum depression is an illness that is frequently unreported and undetected for a variety of reasons and may be potentially devastating for the mother affected as well as her family. Routine screening of postpartum women enables health practitioners to detect symptoms of PPD early and provides an opportunity for early intervention which may improve the outcome and increase the mother’s chances of an earlier recovery. It is therefore important that reliable and convenient screening tools are available to health practitioners who have contact with postpartum women. The primary objective of this research was to make an Afrikaans version of an existing screening scale available – the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS), designed specifically to encompass the multifaceted phenomenon of PPD. In accordance with this objective, the validity and reliability of the PDSS and its Afrikaans version was investigated in English- and Afrikaans-speaking South African mothers. A further objective of this study was to compare the performance of the PDSS with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS-SR16). Various factors have been reported to be associated with the development of PPD. The final objective of this study was to explore the relationship between known risk factors for PPD and high scores on the PDSS amongst women in South African. A total of 365 South African mothers, between 4 and 16 weeks postpartum participated in this study. English-speaking mothers (n = 187) completed the PDSS, EPDS, QIDS, and a demographic and psychosocial questionnaire, while Afrikaans speaking mothers (n = 178) completed the respective Afrikaans versions of these questionnaires. A multiple translation method – Brislin’s back-translation method and the committee approach – was used to translate the PDSS and the QIDS into Afrikaans. An item response theory (IRT), Rasch analysis, was used to examine dimensionality, item difficulty, differential item functioning, and category functioning of the PDSS and the Afrikaans PDSS. Results reveal excellent person reliability estimates for the Afrikaans PDSS as well as for the PDSS in a South African sample. Both language versions performed reasonably well and the majority of items in the PDSS dimensions and the Afrikaans PDSS dimensions demonstrated fit statistics that supported the underlying constructs of each dimension. Some items were identified as problematic, namely Item 2, Item 25, Item 28, and Item 30. The item person construct maps show reasonably good spread of items. There were, however, persons that scored higher than the items could measure and an overrepresentation of items at the mean level. The Likert response categories proved to be effective for all the Afrikaans PDSS items and almost all the PDSS items. Results indicate that 49.7% of mothers screened positive for major PPD using the PDSS. A further 17.3% of mothers obtained scores indicating the presence of significant symptoms of PPD. Statistically significant correlations were obtained between total scores on the PDSS, the EPDS, and the QIDS-SR16. Stepwise multiple regression analysis identified 11 variables that were significantly associated with a high PDSS total score. These were a history of psychiatric illness, postpartum blues, feeling negative or ambivalent about expecting this baby, fearful of childbirth, infant temperament, antenatal depression in recent pregnancy, lack of support from the baby’s father, concern about health related issues regarding the infant, lack of support from friends, difficulty conceiving, and life stress. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Psychology / unrestricted

The financial crisisand the European debt crisis wreaked havoc on many European economies and stock markets. Previous studies have shown that crises are associated with high debt and linked with lower growth. Studies also suggest that politicians underestimate the risks associated with high debt during economic upturn and that economic crises are usually connected with high volatility. Volatility is used as a measurement of risk since high volatility indicates larger market uncertainty of the valuation of the underlying asset. Previous studies have shown that volatility can be a good indication of a firm’s riskiness. As volatility and capital structure both relate to risk and are influenced by market reactions, investigating the impact that capital structure has on volatility during times of global financial market distress could provide insight and be an important tool for investors. This thesis will investigate firms listed on the Stockholm stock exchange, divided into seven industries, in order to find the impact capital structure may have on volatility, before, during and in the aftermath of the recent European debt crisis (2006-2016). The study will use a quantitative research method, with an objectivistic and positivistic research philosophy as well as a deductive research approach. By using multiple regression models, theoretical relations surrounding volatility and capital structure will be contrasted to the results of the study.The results of the study finds that capital structure does not play a significant part inchanges in volatility for firms during any investigated period when testing for all firms simultaneously. However, the same claim cannot be made for when each industry is tested individually. Empirical evidence showed that capital structure is a influencer for changes in volatility for the consumer goods industry prior to and after the debt crisis and in the consumer goods service industry after the debt crisis. Investors are urged to not be concerned by large debt levels, as long as they invest in largefirms and choose the right sectors. The financial sector is seen as the least risky, with low volatility levels. Furthermore, the basic material sector, despite outward appearances, should be avoided as it presents recent periods of unusually large volatility levels.

Studien går ut på att analysera marknadsstrukturen för två industriföretag(Holmen och SCA) under antagandet att båda konkurrerar mot varandragenom att köpa rå material samt genom att sälja förädlade produkter.Produktmarknaden som undersöks är pappersmarknaden och antas varakoncentrerad. Rå materialmknaden som undersöks ärmassavedmarknaden och antas karaktäriseras som en duopsony. Detvisade sig att Holmen och SCA köper massaved från en stor mängdskogsägare. Varje företag skapar varje månad en prislista där de bestämmerbud priset föassaved. Priset varierar beroende på region. Både SCA ochHolmen väljer mellan två strategiska beslut, antigen att buda högt pris ellerlågt pris. Genom spelteori så visade det sig att båda industriföretagenanvänder mixade strategier då de i vissa tillfällen budar högt och i andratillfällen budar lågt. Nash jämviktslägen för mixade strategier räknades utmatematiskt och analyserades genom dynamisk spelteori.Marknadskoncentrationen för pappersmarknaden undersöktes viaHerfindahl-Hirschman index (HHI). Porters femkraftsmodell användes föratt analysera industri konkurrensen. Resultatet visade attproduktmarknaden är koncentrerad då HHI testerna gav höga indexvärdenmellan 3100 och 1700. Det existerade dessutom ett Nash jämviktsläge fö mixade strategier som gav SCA förväntad lönsamhet 1651 miljoner kronoroch Holmen 1295 miljoner kronor. Dynamisk spelteori visade att SCA ochHolmens budgivning följer ett mönster och att högt/lågt bud beror påavvikelser från Nash jämviktslägets sannolikhetsdistribution. Nashjämviktslägets råder ifall sannolikhetsdistributionerna vid låg budgivningär 68,6 procent för SCA och 66,7 procent för Holmen. Detta gav indikatore för icke samarbetsvilliga spel. Slutsatsen är att om två spelare (kvarnar) når / The research aims to analyze the market structure of two companies in th forest industry (Holmen and SCA) with the assumption that thes companies compete at buying raw materials and selling products. Theproduct market in this study is the paper market under the assumption thatboth companies operate in a concentrated product market. The rawmatial market that one investigates in this study is the pulpwood marketunder the assumption that it is a duopsony. What this study has concludedis that Holmen and SCA buy pulpwood from lots of different self-managingforest owners. Each company creates a monthly pricelist where they decidethe bid price of pulpwood. The amount varies depending on the region. Bot SCA and Holmen chooses between two strategic decisions, either to bid highor to bid low. Through game theory, it has been clear that each company usesmixed strategies as they sometimes give high bids and sometimes give lowbids. The Nash equilibrium for mixed strategies have been calculatedmathematically and analyzed through the dynamics of game theory. As fore market concentration, the product market has been investigatedthrough the Herfindahl-Hirschman index (HHI). Porter's five-force modelwas used to analyze the industry competition. The results showed that theproduct market is concentrated as the HHI tests gave High index scoresbetween 3100 and 1700. In addition, there existed a Nash equilibrium in amixed strategy that gave SCA expected payoff 1651 million SEK and Holmen1295 million SEK. The dynamic game theory showed that SCA and Holmen'sbidding follows a repeating trajectory and that the high/low bidding is dueto deviations from Nash equilibrium probability distribution. The Nashequilibrium situation prevails if the probability distribution at low biddingis 68.6 percent for SCA and 66,7 percent for Holmen. This providedindicators for a non-cooperative game. The conclusion is that if two players

Background: The debate on gender equality is a topical subject in Sweden as well as the rest of the world. A gender quota law was proposed for Swedish listed companies but was outvoted. Is there a connection between gender equal companies and financial performance? Purpose: The main purpose of this study aims to investigate if companies with gender equal boards financially outperforms companies who does not have a gender equal board. Method: The thesis is based on a quantitative method along with a deductive approach in order to collect secondary data. Multiple regression analysis was performed in order to test the results against Critical Mass Theory, Resource Dependence Theory and previous research findings. Conclusion: The results of the study conclude that there is a significant positive relationship between gender equal boards and a higher market value. Furthermore, our findings show no significant relationship between gender equal boards and profitability. / Bakgrund: Jämställdhetsdebatten är ett aktuellt ämne både i Sverige som i världen. Ett förslag om könskvotering bland bolagsstyrelser på börsen i Sverige lades fram men blev nedröstat. Finns det en koppling mellan jämställda bolagsstyrelser och finansiell prestation? Syfte: Studiens syfte avser att undersöka om företag på Stockholmsbörsen med jämställda bolagsstyrelser har en högre finansiell prestation jämfört med företag som har en icke-jämställd bolagsstyrelse. Metod: Genom ett kvantitativt angreppssätt och deduktiv ansats har studien tagit del av sekundärdata. Studien har använt multipla regressionsanalyser för att testa dess resultat mot Critical Mass Theory, Resource Dependence Theory samt tidigare forskning. Slutsats: Studiens resultat påvisar att det finns ett statistiskt signifikant samband mellan jämställda bolagsstyrelser och ett ökat marknadsvärde. Vidare finner studien inget statistiskt signifikant samband mellan jämställda bolagsstyrelser och företags lönsamhet.

This dissertation analyses the effects of current fisheries practices and management regulations of the green spiny lobster (Panulirus gracilis) in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Region (ETP). P. gracilis has reached a critical state in the ETP. Country-based studies report that between 60 and 98% of lobsters caught in the wild are under the minimum landing size (MLS). This means that spiny lobsters are being extracted before reproducing and contributing to the replenishment of interconnected populations. The recovery of green spiny lobster populations in the ETP and the future maintenance of a sustainable fishery will depend on effective management decisions and on taking in account environmental factors that influence the population dynamics of the lobsters. In the first study (Chapter 2), the B52 Spiny Lobster individual based simulation model was used for conducting a population viability analysis to quantify the effect of current fishing practices and the effect of varying management regulations on minimum landing size (MLS) and fishing effort. The best suit of regulations to maintain the highest abundance, production of offspring and catch is to protect juveniles and egged females, and to establish a MLS that assures the reproduction of individuals before being extracted. This study revealed regional variations, however the patterns and the causes for variation were not yet clear. This led to the next chapters in this dissertation. In Chapter 3, I used a meta-analysis to explore regional lobster variability by comparing published studies from the ETP. The objective was to identify patterns of variation related to geographic and environmental factors of the region that can inform the establishment and evaluation of coordinated regulations. Morphological relationships showed to be more variable at northern latitudes, where the mean annual sea surface temperatures are higher than at lower temperatures at the Equator. In terms of management, MLS regulations should be adapted accounting for the effect of sea surface temperature and its variation. Additionally, it was observed that monitoring methodologies are not standardized within the region and even in some cases, neither within countries. Furthermore, in most places monitoring of the spiny lobster fishery happens sporadically, only in Galapagos takes place every year. Identifying patterns of variations can improve the accuracy of prediction models which can help to explore, design, and apply more effective management measures, as well as promote regional coordination to support the recovery and maintenance of spiny lobsters. In Chapter 4, I contrast current Ecuadorian minimum landing size (MLS) regulation to lobster empirical measurements within Ecuador in order to recognize potential pitfalls for management enforcement. I used linear regression and multiple regression models with the objective of identifying potential relative size variations of the individuals caught in the wild over time and in the different fishing areas in Ecuador, as well as to analyse the effect of locality, sex, age and mean SST on the tail length/total length ratio. Morphological relations were significantly different among sexes, in time and by all sites. Most importantly, this study shows that current minimum size regulations are not applicable to all sites. Additionally, I found that water temperature has a significant effect on morphological relationship variations. However, it was not the main site-specific variable responsible for explaining such variations. In general, this work emphasizes the need for length data collection standardization and the consideration of temporal and spatial variation implications in national and regional fishery management planning, enforcement and evaluation.

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Ausgangspunkt für die angestellten Untersuchungen bildet das Wissen um die unbefriedigende Treffsicherheit in der Lebensdauerabschätzung bei Belastungen mit ausgeprägten Mittelwertänderungen. Die Grundlage zur Weiterentwicklung theoretischer Lebensdauervorhersagemodelle auf Basis von Nenn- und örtlichen Beanspruchungen wurde mit experimentellen Untersuchungen an Werkstoff- und gekerbten Proben geschaffen, sowohl für einfache als auch gezielt abgeleitete, realitätsnahe komplexe Belastungs-Zeit-Abläufe. Es stehen zwei, ihrem zeitlich abhängigen Materialverhalten nach unterschiedliche Werkstoffe im Mittelpunkt der Betrachtungen. Ziel war es, die grundsätzliche zeitabhängige Reaktion der Werkstoffe auf die Belastung zu erkennen und diese Erkenntnisse mittels integra-len Parametern für die Verbesserung der Treffsicherheit der Lebensdauerabschätzung zu nutzen. Die Abschätzung der experimentell ermittelten Lebensdauern mit dem Nennspannungskonzept, die statistische Auswertung der Schädigungssummen und die Untersuchung der Korrelation von Schädigungssumme und zunächst frei wählbaren Parametern mittels multipler Regressionsanalyse führt zur Festlegung auf drei die Geometrie, den Werkstoff und die Belastung beschreibende Parameter. Bei beiden Werkstoffen wird durch Verwendung einer sogenannten korrigierten mit der Regressionsgleichung bestimmten Schädigungssumme eine Erhöhung der Treffsicherheit der Lebensdauervorhersage nachgewiesen. Den gesammelten Erfahrungen und Erkenntnissen entsprechend werden Empfehlungen zur Anwendung der behandelten Lebensdauerabschätzungsverfahren auf der Grundlage örtlicher Beanspruchungen gegeben. Mit den Versuchen innerhalb der Arbeit wurde eine experimentelle Basis geschaffen, die eine Weiterentwicklung von Ansätzen zur Berücksichtigung des transienten Materialverhaltens in Konzepten auf der Basis örtlicher Beanspruchungen ermöglicht.

2000年代に日本の科学・技術の論文数の増加が止まった。物理学では大学も企業も論文数を減らし、博士課程学生数が減少した。これは論文数の減少が知的活動の総体としての「知識」に関わる社会構造的な問題であることを示唆する。物理論文が減少した原因と社会的背景を明らかにするために、博士進学率について重回帰分析を行ない、「知識と人」社会循環モデルを提唱して社会における知の進化とサイエンス型産業の持続的発展について考察した。 / The number of articles on science and technology in Japan stopped increasing in the 2000s. In physics, universities and companies reduced the number of articles, and the number of doctoral students decreased. This suggests that the decrease in the number of articles is a social structural issue related to "knowledge" as a whole of intellectual activity. In order to clarify the cause of decrease in academic papers in physic, multiple regression analysis on entering rate of doctoral courses was performed and its social background was discussed. A "knowledge and person" social circulation model was advocated, and relation between evolution of knowledge in society and the sustainable development of the science-based industry was considered. / 博士(技術・革新的経営) / Doctor of Philosophy in Technology and Innovative Management / 同志社大学 / Doshisha University

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