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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
191

A contribuição da Fiocruz às políticas públicas de redução do risco de desastres no contexto da mudança climática no horizonte da agenda 2030 para o desenvolvimento sustentável

Vasconcellos, Andréa Araujo de January 2017 (has links)
Submitted by Andréa Vasconcellos (andreavasconcellos.arq@gmail.com) on 2018-07-18T14:06:09Z No. of bitstreams: 1 VASCONCELLOS_A_DISSERTACAO MAP_2018.pdf: 1858630 bytes, checksum: dc774167c754f93f9f1c1d976d048442 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by ÁUREA CORRÊA DA FONSECA CORRÊA DA FONSECA (aurea.fonseca@fgv.br) on 2018-07-19T19:59:32Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 VASCONCELLOS_A_DISSERTACAO MAP_2018.pdf: 1858630 bytes, checksum: dc774167c754f93f9f1c1d976d048442 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-25T12:41:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 VASCONCELLOS_A_DISSERTACAO MAP_2018.pdf: 1858630 bytes, checksum: dc774167c754f93f9f1c1d976d048442 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-06-13 / Objetivo: Esta pesquisa pretende investigar as contribuições da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), enquanto instituição federal de pesquisa em saúde pública de referência nacional e internacional, para as políticas públicas voltadas à redução do risco de desastres no contexto das mudanças climáticas no horizonte da Agenda 2030 para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável. Metodologia: A pesquisa utilizou o método descritivo analítico com pesquisa e análise documental para a investigação dos marcos referencias das políticas públicas globais e nacionais para os quatro conceitos-chave abordados no referencial teórico: mudança climática, redução do risco de desastres, saúde e clima e desenvolvimento sustentável; e também para as análises da Agenda 2030, como plataforma para as políticas públicas de redução dos riscos de desastres, e da contribuição da Fiocruz para essas políticas. Adicionalmente, foram utilizadas as entrevistas semiestruturadas para a coleta de dados de dois dispositivos da Fiocruz, Observatório de Clima e Saúde e CEPEDES, selecionados como os de maior contribuição institucional à temática dos desastres no contexto das mudanças climáticas. Resultados: Foi constatado que a Fiocruz contribui para as políticas públicas de redução do risco de desastres, nacionais e locais, e que a redução do risco de desastres está inserida na Agenda 2030 e que sua temática é transversal à cinco Objetivos para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ODS). Além disso, concluiu que a Estratégia Fiocruz para Agenda 2030 ainda é muito incipiente e que deve incluir em suas ações as contribuições do Observatório de Clima e Saúde e do CEPEDES e, com isso, trabalhar a saúde na Agenda para além do ODS 3. Limitações: A incerteza dos indicadores dos ODS trabalhados na Agenda 2030 brasileira serem os definitivos, por esta ainda estar em processo de interiorização e ter aprofundado a análise da contribuição da Fiocruz para as políticas de redução do risco de desastres apenas para dois dispositivos institucionais. Aplicabilidade do trabalho: A pesquisa estruturou as metas e indicadores da Agenda 2030 relacionados à redução do risco de desastres e identificou a necessidade de melhoria de alguns indicadores e mesmo a criação de novos mais efetivos para a apropriação da Agenda 2030 para as políticas públicas para redução do risco de desastres. Contribuições para a sociedade: A pesquisa confirmou a importância do envolvimento do setor saúde no enfrentamento da redução dos riscos de desastres e apresentou seus principais impactos sobre a saúde humana. Originalidade: Relacionar os impactos dos desastres e da mudança climática sobre a saúde com os Objetivos do Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ODS) da Agenda 2030 brasileira. / Purpose: This research intends to investigate the contributions of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), as a federal public health research institution of national and international reference, for public policies aimed at reducing the risk of disasters in the context of climate change under Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. Methodology: The research used the analytical descriptive method with research and documentary analysis to investigate the benchmarks of global and national public policies for the four key concepts addressed in the theoretical framework: climate change, disaster risk reduction, health and climate and sustainable development; and also for the analysis of Agenda 2030, as a platform for public policies to reduce disaster risks, and Fiocruz's contribution to these policies. In addition, semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from two devices from Fiocruz, Climate and Health Observatory and CEPEDES, selected as the ones with the greatest institutional contribution to the issue of disasters in the context of climate change. Findings: It has been shown that Fiocruz contributes to public policies for national and local disaster risk reduction and that disaster risk reduction is part of Agenda 2030 and that this theme is transversal to the five Sustainable Development Objectives (ODS). In addition, it concluded that the Fiocruz Strategy for Agenda 2030 is still very incipient and that it should include in its actions the contributions of the Climate and Health Observatory and CEPEDES and, should work on health in the Agenda beyond ODS 3. Research limitations: The uncertainty of the ODS indicators worked on in the Brazilian Agenda 2030 are the definitive ones, as it is still in the process of internalization and has deepened the analysis of the contribution of Fiocruz to the policies of disaster risk reduction only for two institutional devices. Practical implications: The research structured the goals and indicators of Agenda 2030 related to disaster risk reduction and identified the need for improvement of some indicators and even the creation of new ones more effective for the appropriation of Agenda 2030 for public policies for disaster risk reduction. Social implications: The research confirmed the importance of the involvement of the health sector in addressing disaster risk reduction and presented its main impacts on human health. Originality: Relate the impacts of disasters and climate change on health with the Sustainable Development Objectives (ODS) of the Brazilian Agenda 2030.
192

Rolig lek eller blodigt allvar? : En kvalitativ studie av lekplatssäkerhetsarbete på kommunala lekplatser i Sverige / Fun and games or serious business? : A qualitative study of playground safety work on municipality playgrounds in Sweden

Hogen, Joakim, Linn, Ekholm January 2017 (has links)
Introduction: Injuries due to accidents are an underlying cause for a large proportion of the number of health care visits in Sweden every year. According to statistics from the National Board of Health and Welfare in Sweden (socialstyrelsen.se) between 1308,25 and 1405,66 health care visits per 100.000 residents are generated each year for the period 2001-2014 due to accidents, and falling is the largest underlying category. Falling can in turn be studied through a number of subcategories, where fall from equipment on playground is one of them, and this is the subcategory studied in this paper. Statistics from the National Board of Health and Welfare show an increase of the number of health care visits per 100.000 residents in Sweden due to this category during the period 2001-2014, despite the fact that since 1999 there are European standards with the purpose of raising the safety of playgrounds. The statistics also show that in Sweden there are large regional differences in injury prevalence for this category of accidents, which is the reason why this became the focus of this study.   One of the reasons this is an important area for injury prevention work is that it’s a shared societal responsibility, another reason is that the studied population has the largest statistical life expectancy left, so injuries that affect their health can also affect the future wellbeing of the society.  The municipalities’ work regarding this area is dictated by European Standards to ensure the safety of playgrounds. Beyond the specifications for the equipment itself, the standards dictate that a series of inspections of varying degrees are preformed throughout the year to ensure the standards are met.   Aim: The aim of this study is to examine if there are any identifiable and differing factors in the way that municipalities work with playgrounds and playground safety, both practically and theoretically, based on if they are located in a region with high injury prevalence or in a region with low injury prevalence of this type of injury.   Method: The study was designed as a qualitative interview study where representatives of 11 different municipalities were interviewed with the purpose to map out how they worked with playgrounds and playground safety within their municipality. The data collected was then analysed using thematically/ phenomenological content analysis to see if any differing factors between the two groups could be detected.   Results: No major unambiguous differences were discovered between the two compared groups included in the study, but certain tendencies could be found in the material. Four themes were uncovered, enabling factors for the practical work, hindering factors for the practical work, enabling factors for the theoretical work and hindering factors for the theoretical work. These themes in turn produce a number of categories and subcategories. The results show a wider range of both hindering and enabling factors of both the practical and theoretical work in the municipalities from regions with high injury prevalence, compared to the municipalities from regions with low injury prevalence.   Conclusion: The result indicates that there are differences in how the municipalities from regions with low injury prevalence work regarding playground safety compared to municipalities from regions with high injury prevalence. However, further research will be required to fully uncover and explore which these factors are. / Inledning: Skador till följd av olyckor ligger bakom en ansenlig andel av vårdtillfällen i Sverige varje år. Enligt Patientregistret (Socialstyrelsen.se) uppgår dessa skador till mellan 1308,25 till 1405,66 vårdtillfällen per 100 000 invånare och år, under åren 2001–2014. Den olyckstyp som är orsaken till att högst antal personen uppsöker vård är fallolyckor.  Fallolyckor delas i sin tur in i flera underkategorier, varav en är fall från lekredskap på lekplats, vilket är vad denna studie kom att fokusera på. Orsaken till att denna kategori är intressant är att det i statistiken i Patientregistret går att se en ökning av antalet vårdtillfällen per 100 000 invånare för åren 2001–2014, detta trots att det sedan 1999 finns europeiska standarder med syfte att höja säkerheten på lekplatser. I statistiken går också att utläsa att det finns stora regionala variationer i skadeprevalensen för denna olyckskategori i Sverige, vilket är huvudområdet för denna studie.   Något som gör detta till ett viktigt område för skadeprevention är dels att det är ett samhällsansvar, ansvaret för barnens hälsa och välmående kan inte läggas varken på barnen själva eller uteslutande på deras föräldrar; dels på grund av att skador i denna population kan få stora effekter på sikt då barn är den grupp som statistiskt sett har flest levnadsår kvar och i framtiden kommer bära ansvaret för det gemensamma samhället. Kommunerna idag är ålagda enligt de europeiska standarderna att se till att lekplatser följer vissa standarder för att lekplatserna ska anses säkra. Utöver de specifikationer som finns för själva utrustningen så utförs uppdraget genom att ett antal inspektioner och besiktningar görs för att säkerställa att standarden på lekplatserna löpande efterses.   Syfte: Målet med studien är således att undersöka och försöka kartlägga om det finns skillnader i arbetssätt, både praktiskt och teoretiskt, mellan kommuner som ligger i län med hög skadeprevalens inom denna olyckskategori jämfört med kommuner som ligger i län med låg dito som kan förklara skillnaderna i fallskadeprevalens mellan de båda grupperna.   Metod: Studien utfördes som en kvalitativ intervjustudie där representanter för totalt 11 kommuner intervjuades kring hur de inom den egna kommunen arbetade med lekplatser och lekplatssäkerhet. Insamlade data analyserades sedan med tematisk/ fenomenologisk innehållsanalys för att se om några skillnader kunde upptäckas.   Resultat: Inga större, konkreta skillnader kunde upptäckas mellan de två grupperna som jämfördes i studien, däremot kunde vissa tendenser skönjas. Fyra teman vaskades fram genom analysen, vilka var goda förutsättningar för det praktiska arbetet, faktorer som hindrar det praktiska arbetet, goda förutsättningar för det teoretiska arbetet samt faktorer som hindrar det teoretiska arbetet. Dessa teman är i sin tur indelade i ett antal kategorier och underkategorier. Resultatet visar att bland kommuner som ligger i län med hög skadeprevalens är en större spridning på hindrande och underlättande faktorer för såväl det praktiska som det teoretiska arbetet med lekplatssäkerhet, jämfört med kommuner från län med låg skadeprevalens.   Slutsats: Resultatet indikerar att det finns faktorer kring arbetet med lekplatssäkerhet som skiljer sig åt i hur kommuner från län med hög skadeprevalens arbetar kring lekplatssäkerhet, kontra kommuner från län med låg skadeprevalens. Dock krävs vidare forskning för att se en tydlig kartläggning av dessa faktorer.
193

Řízení jednoúčelového obráběcího stroje / Control of special purpose machine tool

Plocek, Jaroslav January 2015 (has links)
The master thesis treats the design of control system of special purpose machine tool. The first part analyzes and compares two possible variants of control system which use either a CNC control system Sinumerik or motion control system Simotion. Only the variant with the Simotion control system is subsequently examined in detail: its hardware configuration, the selection of components and partly also the software solution. The thesis further deals with the safety of the realized control system and of the whole machine. There are described general safety requirements of machinery based on harmonized European standards and their specific application in the design of safety functions and the safety circuits of solved machine tool.
194

L'utilisation de l'information géospatiale comme outil d'aide à la réduction des risques de catastrophe ; Etudes de cas du gouvernorat de Baalbek-Hermel/Liban / The use of Geospatial Information as support for Disaster Risk Reduction ; Case studies from Baalbek-Hermel Governorate/Lebanon

Der Sarkissian, Rita 14 June 2019 (has links)
Étant donné que les catastrophes sont un phénomène spatial, l’application de systèmes d’information géographique (SIG) est un outil pratique et fiable pour le processus de réduction des risques de catastrophe (RRC). Les SIG peuvent servir le processus de RRC en tant que base de données pour la collecte et l’intégration de données, ainsi que pour l’incorporation de données multi‐sources, en tant que systèmes d’observation, en tant qu’outil pour la production de cartes de risques, en tant que calculateur d’exposition, constructeur de modèles déterminant les vulnérabilités des éléments, en temps quasi réel, traqueur de crise, etc… Mais ces applications SIG ont été intégrées de manière inégale à travers les différentes phases du cycle de RRC. De plus, l'utilisation efficace de ces technologies nécessite des recherches et des développements plus poussés, en particulier dans les pays en développement où de nombreux obstacles entravent l'utilisation des SIG pour la protection civile. Cette tâche devient encore plus compliquée au niveau local en région rurale comme dans notre zone d’étude Baalbek‐Hermel, Gouvernorat du Liban. Le manque de ressources humaines et financières et des données spatiales critiques lacunaires limitent l’utilisation des SIG pour améliorer la décision en matière de RRC ? Dans quelle mesure le SIG pourrait‐il être efficace dans les actions de RRC dans un pays en développement comme le Liban, où le nombre d’enjeux exposés augmentent sans cesse et où le gouvernement a d'autres priorités urgentes que de s'engager dans un plan de RRC? Plusieurs études de cas menées à Baalbek‐Hermel servent à tester les hypothèses retenues et à discuter de l’adoption et de l’adaptation de techniques SIG afin de les rendre efficaces et capables de servir tout le cycle de RRC ; évaluation des dangers, de la vulnérabilité et des dommages, planification d’urgence et d’évacuation, systèmes d’alerte précoce, zonage des terres, données en temps quasi réel pour l’intervention, rétablissement et renforcement de la résilience. Les défis posés par le déploiement de ces technologies SIG dans chacune des phases susmentionnées du cycle de la RRC et la manière dont ils peuvent être surmontés sont discutés, en considérant les approches autochtones pour l’application de technologies et d’innovations en matière de RRC. Les résultats de cette thèse offrent le potentiel de surmonter certains des obstacles qui entravent l'utilisation des SIG pour une RRC efficace dans les pays en développement. Ainsi, les praticiens de RRC au Liban et dans d'autres pays en développement pourraient exploiter ce potentiel pour tenter de réduire la vulnérabilité aux dangers et améliorer la capacité de prévention des catastrophes. / Given that natural disasters are spatial phenomenon, the application of geographical information systems (GIS) has proven to be a convenient and reliable tool for the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) process. GIS can serve DRR as a database for data gathering, integration and incorporation,an output viewer, a tool for hazard maps production, a calculator for exposure, a model builderfor determining assets’ vulnerabilities, a near real time crisis tracker, etc… Nevertheless, GIS applications have been integrated unevenly across the different phases of the DRR cycle.Moreover, the effective use of these technologies requires further research and development,especially in developing countries where numerous barriers hamper the use of GIS for civil protection. The task is further complicated at the local level in rural areas such as our study area Baalbek‐Hermel, Governorate of Lebanon. Restrictions include limited human and financial resources and a lack of critical spatial data required to support GIS application to DRR. To what extent could GIS be efficient in DRR actions in a developing country like Lebanon where themajority of assets at risk is ever‐growing and the government has other urgent priorities than tocommit to DRR plans? Several case‐studies in Baalbek‐Hermel were taken to test these assumptions and discuss the adaptation of GIS techniques to make them effective and to be able to serve the whole DRR cycle; hazard, vulnerability, risk and damage assessment, emergency and evacuation planning, land‐use zoning, recovery and resilience building. Challenges in the deployment of GIS technologies in each afore mentioned phase of the DRR cycle and how they may be overcome were discussed, considering indigenous approaches for the application of technologies and innovations in DRR. The results of this dissertation suggested ways to control some of the barriers hampering the effective use of GIS for DRR in developing countries. Thus,DRR practitioners in Lebanon and other developing countries could harness this potential in anattempt to reduce hazard vulnerability and improve disaster reduction capacity.
195

Investigating prospects of integrating spatial planning with disaster risk reduction in flood prone settlements of Greater Tzaneen Municipality of Limpopo Province in South Africa

Tladi, Mazwi Thapelo 18 May 2019 (has links)
MURP / Department of Urban and Regional Planning / Disaster is posing serious threats to both human lives, infrastructure and the environment at large. Greater Tzaneen Municipality (GTM) is one of the many municipalities that suffer from flood related disasters. Lack of integration between Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and spatial planning has compounded the disaster risk situation in the municipality. This study sought to investigate the prospects of integrating spatial planning with disaster risk reduction in flood prone areas of GTM. The study is guided by three research objectives. First, the study sought to analyse spatial planning attributes that can be valorised for DRR in flood prone areas; Secondly, it sought to analyse spatial planning factors that define vulnerability attributes of households occupying flood prone areas. Finally, the study sought to perform a cluster analytical creation of a typology of households whose resilience to flooding could be enhanced through spatial planning. Twenty-five flood prone areas were analysed on the basis of four main flood vulnerability attributes. In order to identify such vulnerability attributes, the study borrowed critical insights from literatures on flood vulnerability, spatial planning and DRR. Such a critical review of literature was complemented by the use of pattern matching as a qualitative research instrument. Quantitative that was gathered using a structured observation checklist. Quantitative data generated was first subjected to various statistical tests that included Normality and Reliability Tests. Common measures of Normality test used included measures of skewness, kurtosis and the use of Normal Q-Q plots. To assess flood vulnerability, Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) was used. HCA was used to identify clusters of flood prone areas which had common characteristics in terms of the four main study constructs proposed by the study which included the physical/engineering, socio-economic, ecological/natural and political or governance conditions characterizing each area. HCA was then used to identify main clusters exhibiting similar characteristics and the associated level of vulnerability of such of communities occupying such clusters. Study results revealed 2 main clusters of flood prone areas whose differences lay in interactions that existed between the physical/engineering, socio-economic, ecological/natural and political or governance conditions characterizing each area. Such clusters depicted 2 levels of vulnerability that is high, and moderate. A number of opportunities and constraints were generated using the SWOT matrix strategy with the main results showing that spatial planning elements characterizing flood prone areas could be transformed into critical urban risk management options for DRR. This is because a spatial planning elements were found to have a direct influences on critical factors of DRR such as location of activities. The study concluded by recommending a number of spatial planning strategies that can be vaporized for DRR. Such strategies are systematically aligned to the unique vulnerability context conditions associated with the two flood vulnerability solution arrived at using HCA. / NRF
196

Women Representation in Disaster Risk Reduction : A Critical Discourse Analysis of the UNDRR Frameworks

Gerbais, Juliette January 2020 (has links)
While early relocation is not makeable, disaster risk reduction seems to be the most effective tool to decrease the impact of a disaster. This case study focuses on three UNDRR frameworks as they appear to be the greatest instance of international documents referring to disaster risk reduction (DRR). Especially, this research examines the representation of women within these frameworks and how their portrayal in DRR has changed over the last two decades. To do so, a critical discourse analysis of the three UNDRR frameworks is conducted. This study benefits from a social vulnerability approach and further engages with the Feminist Political Ecology theory. The analysis finds that even though women are increasingly represented in the frameworks, their roles as active participants remain negligible. Their knowledge and interest are still not recognised as valuable in DRR. Rather, women seem to be employed as tools to include more gender-sensitive programmes. This study recommends a greater and more complex emphasis on women in future DRR policies.
197

Integrating indigenous and scientific knowledge in community-based early warning system development for climate-related malaria risk reduction in Mopani District of South Africa

Ramutsa, Brenda Nyeverwai January 2020 (has links)
PhD (Geography) / Department of Geography and Geo-Information Sciences / Malaria is a climate-change concatenated biological hazard that may, like any other natural hazard, can lead to a disaster if there is a failure in handling emergencies or risks. A holistic solution for malaria mitigation can be provided when indigenous knowledge is complemented with scientific knowledge. Malaria remains a challenge in South Africa and Limpopo province is the highest burdened malaria-endemic region. Specifically, Vhembe District is the highest burdened followed by Mopani District (Raman et al., 2016). This research sought to mitigate malaria transmissions in Mopani District through the integration of indigenous and scientific knowledge. The study was carried out in Mopani District of South Africa and 4 municipalities were involved. These are Ba-Phalaborwa, Greater Tzaneen, Greater Letaba, and Maruleng. A pragmatism philosophy was adopted hence the study took a mixed approach (sequential multiphase design). Data was collected from 381 selected participants through in-depth interviews, a survey and a focus group discussion. Participants for the in-depth interviews were obtained through snowballing and selected randomly for the survey, while for the focus group discussion purposive sampling was used. The study applied constructivist grounded theory to analyze qualitative data and to generate theory. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23.0 was used for quantitative data. Based on empirical findings, it was concluded that temperature and rainfall among other various factors exacerbate malaria transmission in the study area. Results of the study also show that people in Mopani District predict the malaria season onset by forecasting rainfall using various indigenous knowledge based indicators. The rainfall indicators mentioned by participants in the study were used in the developed early warning system. An Early warning system is an essential tool that builds the capacities of communities so that they can reduce their vulnerability to hazards or disasters. In the design of the system, Apache Cordova, JDK 1.8, Node JS, and XAMPP software were used. The study recommends malaria management and control key stakeholders to adopt the developed early warning system as a further mitigation strategy to the problem of malaria transmission in Mopani District. / NRF
198

Youth Perspectives on Participation in Disaster Risk Reduction: An Asset-Based Approach

Pickering, Christina Julie 15 May 2023 (has links)
An all-of-society approach is foundational for increasing disaster resilience and creating adaptive capacity in the face of disasters and climate change. Youth participation within disaster risk reduction (DRR) and disaster risk management (DRM) is an inclusive strategy to engage youth in an all-of-society approach. While this is an emerging and fast-growing area of study, ingraining social inclusion in practice is slow. Through a series of four articles, this dissertation describes two separate qualitative studies exploring youth participation in DRR and DRM through the youth perspective. Participatory research methodologies dismantle power dynamics inherent in traditional research, and they are well-suited for research on youth participation. As such, our first study used Photovoice methodology to explore youth perceptions of youth capabilities in disasters, and to understand their experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Examples of youth participation initiatives in DRR are scattered, necessitating exploration of the process of participation in diverse contexts and types of disaster events. We conducted the second study using case study methodology to explore facilitators of - and barriers to - youth contributions towards DRR efforts in the context of local flooding, tornado, and pandemic events in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. This dissertation provides insight on how to promote youth resilience, capacity, and strengths in disasters. Based on these findings, we argue that a paradigm shift in DRR towards an asset-based approach is essential to implement youth participation in practice. An asset-based approach aligns with the capability-oriented worldview in youth participation literature and theories. The complexity arises in attempting to apply asset-based lessons from the literature into the traditionally needs-based orientation of DRR policy and DRM practice. More research is needed to document youth actions in DRR and to determine asset indicators to evaluate implementation efforts. This dissertation begins an important conversation around applying an asset-based approach to youth participation in DRR through the perspectives of youth.
199

The Law BusinessmanTM : Five Essays on Legal Self-efficacy and Business Risk

Jörgensen, Fredrik January 2013 (has links)
The thesis challenges the notion of effectiveness of law as being based on the formal institutions of courts, law enforcement and written law. It argues that the best way to measure the effectiveness of law is the legal self-efficacy of laymen who are the end users of law.  It presents a new perspective on the effectiveness of law. It turns the traditional perspective of studying the effects of legal institutions around and instead studies the effect of how individuals perceive their own ability to use law. This self-reflexive ability - legal self-efficacy -  is the answer to the question “How comfortable are with communicating with legal terminology?”. The thesis makes several comparisons using the traditional perspective and legal self-efficacy and finds that legal self-efficacy is a better measure of legal effectiveness. This thesis analyzes 246 businesspeople in Russia and their risk behavior  with regards to economic transactions in relation to legal self-efficacy.  The theory behind legal self-efficacy is a combination of Luhmann’s theory of law as communication and Bandura’s concept of self-efficacy.  The first paper applies the traditional approach. It analyzes the effect of legal efficiency on leverage and debt maturity for listed and non-listed companies. The second paper is describes the conceptual foundation of the legal effectiveness based on the individual. The third paper compares the effect of private order (including legal self-efficacy) and public order institutions on the granting of trade credit.  The fourth paper analyzes the impact of legal self-efficacy and formal legal institutions on sanctions against clients in a comparative perspective. The final paper seeks out possible sources of legal self-efficacy. Legal self-efficacy can be used to better understand the interaction of individuals and law including such fields of research as behavioral accounting, behavioral law and finance, legal sociology and legal studies.
200

Self-Management of Disaster Risk and Uncertainty: The Role of Preventive Health in Building Disaster Resilience

Gowan, Monica Elizabeth January 2011 (has links)
One of the great challenges facing human systems today is how to prepare for, manage, and adapt successfully to the profound and rapid changes wreaked by disasters. Wellington, New Zealand, is a capital city at significant risk of devastating earthquake and tsunami, potentially requiring mass evacuations with little or short notice. Subsequent hardship and suffering due to widespread property damage and infrastructure failure could cause large areas of the Wellington Region to become uninhabitable for weeks to months. Previous research has shown that positive health and well-being are associated with disaster-resilient outcomes. Preventing adverse outcomes before disaster strikes, through developing strengths-based skill sets in health-protective attitudes and behaviours, is increasingly advocated in disaster research, practise, and management. This study hypothesised that well-being constructs involving an affective heuristic play vital roles in pathways to resilience as proximal determinants of health-protective behaviours. Specifically, this study examined the importance of health-related quality of life and subjective well-being in motivating evacuation preparedness, measured in a community sample (n=695) drawn from the general adult population of Wellington’s isolated eastern suburbs. Using a quantitative epidemiological approach, the study measured the prevalence of key quality of life indicators (physical and mental health, emotional well-being or “Sense of Coherence”, spiritual well-being, social well-being, and life satisfaction) using validated psychometric scales; analysed the strengths of association between these indicators and the level of evacuation preparedness at categorical and continuous levels of measurement; and tested the predictive power of the model to explain the variance in evacuation preparedness activity. This is the first study known to examine multi-dimensional positive health and global well-being as resilient processes for engaging in evacuation preparedness behaviour. A cross-sectional study design and quantitative survey were used to collect self-report data on the study variables; a postal questionnaire was fielded between November 2008 and March 2009 to a sampling frame developed through multi-stage cluster randomisation. The survey response rate was 28.5%, yielding a margin of error of +/- 3.8% with 95% confidence and 80% statistical power to detect a true correlation coefficient of 0.11 or greater. In addition to the primary study variables, data were collected on demographic and ancillary variables relating to contextual factors in the physical environment (risk perception of physical and personal vulnerability to disaster) and the social environment (through the construct of self-determination), and other measures of disaster preparedness. These data are reserved for future analyses. Results of correlational and regression analyses for the primary study variables show that Wellingtonians are highly individualistic in how their well-being influences their preparedness, and a majority are taking inadequate action to build their resilience to future disaster from earthquake- or tsunami-triggered evacuation. At a population level, the conceptual multi-dimensional model of health-related quality of life and global well-being tested in this study shows a positive association with evacuation preparedness at statistically significant levels. However, it must be emphasised that the strength of this relationship is weak, accounting for only 5-7% of the variability in evacuation preparedness. No single dimension of health-related quality of life or well-being stands out as a strong predictor of preparedness. The strongest associations for preparedness are in a positive direction for spiritual well-being, emotional well-being, and life satisfaction; all involve a sense of existential meaningfulness. Spiritual well-being is the only quality of life variable making a statistically significant unique contribution to explaining the variance observed in the regression models. Physical health status is weakly associated with preparedness in a negative direction at a continuous level of measurement. No association was found at statistically significant levels for mental health status and social well-being. These findings indicate that engaging in evacuation preparedness is a very complex, holistic, yet individualised decision-making process, and likely involves highly subjective considerations for what is personally relevant. Gender is not a factor. Those 18-24 years of age are least likely to prepare and evacuation preparedness increases with age. Multidimensional health and global well-being are important constructs to consider in disaster resilience for both pre-event and post-event timeframes. This work indicates a need for promoting self-management of risk and building resilience by incorporating a sense of personal meaning and importance into preparedness actions, and for future research into further understanding preparedness motivations.

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