Magister Public Health - MPH / Background: Disclosure in the context of HIV is the sharing of information about one’s HIV-positive status with someone else. In the case of people living with HIV (PLHIV), many factors influence their decision to disclose. As with other illnesses there is a concern about possible discrimination or stigma. On the other hand, disclosure can lead to higher levels of support and better management of HIV infection. Types of disclosure can also vary depending on the need of the PLHIV, being partial or full, in order to gain the most benefit. Self-disclosure or mediated disclosure with the assistance of someone else is controlled by the PLHIV, whereas involuntary or forced disclosure might not be under the PLHIV's control and thus more likely to have negative consequences. No studies have been done in the rural area of Linguère, Senegal or in the rest of the country to identify the factors that influence the decisions of PLHIV around disclosure. Senegal has a concentrated HIV epidemic with national HIV prevalence stable at 0.7% in 2005 and 2010 Demographic and Health Surveys. Linguère District's HIV prevalence was at 0.8% in 2003. By knowing more about what motivates PLHIV to disclose or not disclose their status, service providers and others can better support PLHIV to practise beneficial disclosure. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore factors that influence the decision to disclose or not disclose one's HIV-positive status to regular sexual partners, friends and family in Linguère District,Senegal. Methods: A qualitative method with in-depth interviews was used to explore the factors that influenced decisions concerning disclosure. Fifteen PLHIV were identified through purposive sampling based on criteria such as marital status, gender and prior disclosure decisions. In addition, four service providers from the AIDS service organization, Projet SSP, and the district health and social workers served as key informants. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and translated from the local languages into French. Record reviews of the HIV/AIDS service organization complemented the interviews. The fieldwork was conducted in the study setting for two weeks in January 2012. The data was analysed through thematic analysis. Findings: The main themes that emerged as reasons for disclosure were maintaining psychosocial well-being, existence of trusting relationships, need for support with health care, reciprocal obligations and concern for others, whereas reasons for non-disclosure included stigma and discrimination and negative impact on family. However, the factors varied from one participant to another and could not consistently be attributed to one group or another, whether man or woman, married or divorced,etc. Influencing factors were related to gaining support for the participant or avoiding problems. Concerns about stigma were great and included reference to wanting others to have soutoura— privacy, dignity, respect. There were also factors which took into consideration the consequence for the person to whom they might disclose, such as desire to avoid upset or desire to seek testing and possible care for a spouse. Of the participants who had disclosed, there were no cases of severe negative consequences. Not one participant expressed regret for having disclosed, rather they acknowledged that there were positive benefits for themselves and sometimes also the other person to whom disclosure was made. The roles of the service providers and the support group were also influential in decision-making around disclosure, with a good number of cases of mediated disclosure. Conclusion: In line with consequence theory, PLHIV weighed up their benefits and costs when decisions around disclosure were contemplated. The benefits were that PLHIV who chose to disclose gained from increased social support and better management of their HIV infection. At the same time further transmission of infection was potentially reduced and others were oriented for testing and for access to care if needed. In general, HIV continues to be a particularly stigmatising condition and thus the majority of PLHIV in this study judged that it is not worth the risk of possible abandonment,rejection or slander to disclose their status, regardless of the fact that few have actually experienced severe negative consequences as a result of actual disclosure. Because of support provided through service providers and the support group, however, those participants who had chosen to disclose to someone outside of the support group were reaping benefits and also likely avoiding the need to turn to risky activities, such as transactional sex or formal sex work. Recommendations: Recommendations drawn from this study include the need to support programmes or initiatives which seek to reduce HIV-related stigma. There is also the need for leaders in the community to show support for PLHIV which can reduce stigma. Health care and service providers should be aware of the needs of PLHIV and the changes that may arise over time which could lead to a decision to practise beneficial disclosure. They should also learn from the experiences shared by other PLHIV which can in turn be shared. They should receive further training in order to better understand the complexity of disclosure and to assist with mediated disclosure.

Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / South Africa is a regional hub for international immigration and the main destination for many African descent, a home of high number of refugees ad asylum seekers across African continent. The refugees and asylum seekers communities in South Africa are settled and melting into the city life with the host communities.

This master thesis report aims to highlight the importance ofinterorganizational relationships between experienced serviceproviders and emerging biopharmaceutical (EBP) companies within theSwedish healthcare industry. A shift in innovation strategiesregarding new pharmaceutical- and medical device products hasprompted a paradigm shift within a complex industry wherecollaborations between organisations has become increasinglycrucial. With a better understanding of how these companiesoperates, increased collaboration efforts could result in a fasterand more precise product development with new products reaching themarket improving the health for people around the world. In order toallow experienced service providers to enhance services towards EBPcompanies, a fundamental understanding of how decision makers withinthese EBP companies prefer to conduct relationships is needed. Wehave examined relationship preferences of EBP companies byconducting a qualitative case study through 14 interviews withdecision makers combined with a quantitative conjoint analysis.Eight factors was identified as important for when EBP companiesdecide to engage with a service provider: cost behavior,professional competence, adaptability, communication, personalrelationship, stability, EBP insight and size. The factorsadaptability, personal relationship, cost and size were used in theconjoint analysis to determine their relative importance which showthat adaptability and cost behavior was of the largest importance.With descriptions of each factor, we have provided a meaningfulguide to action of how to address these factors as a serviceprovider. The relationships is largely investigated as relationshipsbetween contract research organizations (as service providers) andEBP companies, but we have created a framework applicable forservice providers within the healthcare industry in general.

A major component of the primary health care (PHC) system is the delivery of health services on a community level, at the core of which is the Home and Community Based Care (HCBC) programme. This study focuses on one element of the HCBC system, namely how those involved in the administration of the community-based health component of primary health care, understand their relationship from the perspective of both the government (WCG - DoH) and the NPO service providers in the Eden District of the Western Cape. Additionally, it analyses the nature and the extent of the collaboration between the two entities. A patient referral tool was facilitated in a collaborative process to assess the ability of the two entities to strengthen their relationship. The study methodology was undertaken utilising Insider Ethnography with the researcher as a participant observer. Ten semi-structured interviews of the key stakeholders and one focus group were conducted with the staff of four non-profit (NPO) service providers operating in the Eden District and with WCG - DoH staff managing the HCBC programme. The findings reflect a substantial disconnect and imbalance in the relationship between the two entities, highlighting a top-down, transactional process at higher levels of management, in contrast to the operational relationships at the local sub-district level which are more collaborative. This disjuncture often disempowers the NPO service providers involved in the implementation of the programme. A number of recommendations regarding communication, advocacy, and innovation are proposed. Regular meetings of government, from district to provincial levels, with the NPO service providers, to strengthen collaboration by all stakeholders, are crucial.

Internet Service Providers, or ISPs, like any other rational entity make decisions to maximize their profit. While some of their decisions are on how to attract customers, they inevitably need to control how much resources consumers utilize. In this dissertation, we focus on two different aspects of ISP's decisions, including bandwidth allocation and pricing techniques through which ISPs manage allotting their limited capacity to users with high demand, and zero-rating, which can be one of the tools through which the ISP can attract customers. For bandwidth allocation, this dissertation discusses the data plans available for each user's monthly billing cycle. Within those, the ISPs guarantee a fixed amount of data at high rates until a byte threshold is reached, at which point the user's data rate is throttled to a lower rate for the remainder of the cycle. In practice, the thresholds and rates of throttling can appear and may be somewhat arbitrary. In this dissertation, we evaluate the choice of threshold and rate as an optimization problem (regret minimization) and demonstrate that intuitive formulations of client regret, which preserve desirable fairness properties, lead to optimization problems that have tractably computable solutions. For zero-rating options in the ISP market, and their relation to net neutrality, we begin by introducing the concept of zero-rating, which refers to the practice of providing free Internet access to some users under certain conditions, and usually concurs with differentiation among users or content providers. Even though zero-rating is banned in some countries (India, Canada), others have either taken no stance or explicitly allowed it (South Africa, Kenya, U.S.). While there is broad agreement that preserving the content quality of service falls under the purview of net neutrality, the role of differential pricing, especially the practice of \emph{zero-rating} remains controversial. An objective of net neutrality is to design regulations for the Internet and ensure that it remains a public, open platform where innovations can thrive. We show the practice of zero-rating does not agree with that. This dissertation shows how ISPs could make zero-rating decisions to attract customers, and then show how these decisions may negatively impact the market and customer welfare, which necessitates the existence of some zero-rating regulations.

The A/E/C industry faces the inability to meet client demands of projects completed on time and on schedule due to the minimal collaboration between parties, communication problems, and mistakes. The present project management system in the industry is paper-based, and requires the owners of information to distribute the knowledge at their discretion. This system has inherent delays in information transmission, which lead to miscommunications, mistakes, and costly rework, which in turn, cause increases in the project schedule and budget. There is a need to fundamentally change the project management philosophy of the industry. Rather than each party maintaining a project management system, there needs to be a single, integrated project-based system. One type of integrated project management systems is project-specific websites. This research focuses specifically on the project-specific websites for project management (PSWS) offered by construction-based project management application service providers (PMASPs). While there are substantial improvements in the project process including cost and time savings by using a PSWS, the industry is reluctant to adopt the new technology. There are numerous barriers to the implementation of PSWS. A large barrier is determining how to implement and use PMASP-Based PSWS. Through a literature review, a project management questionnaire, investigations of the leading construction-based project management application service providers (PMASPs), and implementation case studies, a chapter on implementation considerations and lessons was developed. The Implementation Considerations and Lessons chapter serves to provide companies a basis for PSWS implementation and use. The chapter contains three parts: background, implementation, and sustainability. The background section identifies the benefits of using PSWS, examines the ability of five construction-based project management application service providers to meet the project management need of the parties, and identifies the barriers to implementation users should expect. The second part of the chapter details the steps needed to successfully implement and use the system. The final part describes the sustainability challenges that occur after implementation. / Master of Science

Problem – Logistics services worldwide are not considered to be environmental sustainable because of their high emissions of greenhouse gasses (GHG) as well as its air, soil and water pollution. Since fourth party logistics providers (4PLs) manage the entire supply chain they can reduce their harmful environmental impact on a large scale through green logistics innovation., There are however difficulties for 4PLs to innovate in green logistics.  Purpose – This paper investigates how 4PLs generate and manage green logistics innovation. It also explores what drivers and barriers there are for developing green logistics innovation.  Method – This paper is based on a single case study that uses CIMO logic in the theoretical framework to thoroughly explore and clarify the area of green logistic innovation among 4PLs. Semi structured interviews and a questionnaire were constructed as the main source for gathering empirical evidence.   Results – The case company provided evidence for how 4PLs innovate by being close to their suppliers and customers and finding new opportunities for green logistics innovation. Drivers and barriers are also identified for green logistics innovation.  Conclusions – The study shows how 4PLs can manage and generate innovations as well as create their own playing field by developing competence for new areas of business, enlarging the boundaries for 4PLs to innovate in. The study also shows the importance of considering the goods as a factor in green logistics (particularly reverse logistics).

Thesis (MAcc)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is a software delivery model whereby software applications, such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Human Resource administration and payroll and Procurement, are hosted centrally by various service providers at their premises. These hosted applications can be delivered to multiple service customers via an existing Internet connection, with a browser based front-end, or via a thin client system. As all hardware and support services are provided by the service provider, operational costs for customers are reduced in comparison to a traditional, in-house supported software application. Traditional cost estimates for the deployment of on-premise software applications exclude personnel costs that are needed for ongoing support and maintenance. Depending on certain variables, such as the application involved, these costs can vary between 50% and 85% of the total cost of ownership of the application. Additionally, the cost of maintenance, periodic upgrades and continued support, on an annual basis, can be up to four times the initial cost of purchasing the application. From the perspective of the service customer the most difficult part of determining whether to move to SaaS is the total cost of ownership (TCO) calculation. This is due to the fact that the TCO does not merely include the cost of new licences, but also the careful consideration of certain variables, before a potential service customer can make a decision regarding a potential move to SaaS. These variables include considerations such as: - Physical and logical communication interfaces; - User requirements; - Security and privacy of information and data; - Customisability; - Availability of services and data; - Service levels; - Data ownership; and - Integration with existing systems. Presently no comprehensive framework exists that sets out the various aspects to be considered by a user company when determining whether to adopt SaaS, or not. The purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive framework of considerations relating to the adoption of SaaS by user companies in the form of a Total Cost of Ownership calculation. The framework was compiled after considering the variables that would influence the decision to move to SaaS, the impact of these variables on the potential SaaS customer and the costs associated with each of the above aspects. The framework compiled can assist potential SaaS customers in the decision to adopt SaaS. In addition, this table of considerations can also be used by the potential SaaS vendor in determining the viability of their SaaS offering, when compared to an equivalent, on-premise based software solution.

It is well-recognised that companies are under pressure to take responsibility for the environmental impact of their operations. Logistics service providers (LSPs), who through their transport and logistics operations have a large negative impact on the environment, are one type of supply chain actor that is under such pressure. However, in order for LSPs to be able to lower their environmental impact sufficiently, their customers, the shippers, also need to take responsibility. This thesis takes its starting point in the relationships between LSPs and shippers and argues that in order for LSPs’ environmental activities to reach their full potential, the shippers must be included in the activities. The purpose of this thesis is to describe and explain how supply chain actors, with a specific focus on logistics service providers and shippers, can include environmental activities in their relationships with each other. This comprises identifying those environmental activities that are relevant for relationships between LSPs and shippers, as well as describing the extent to which environmental activities are included in such relationships. By means of the theoretical perspective of power between supply chain actors, the thesis also sets out to further understand how power balances between LSPs and shippers can influence the extent to which they include environmental activities in their relationships with each other. Finally, the use of the theoretical perspective of coordination aims, through the analysis of coordination mechanisms, to shed light on how environmental activities are included in LSP-shipper relationships. The research in this thesis has mainly descriptive and explanatory aims, although due to the novelty of research into LSPshipper relationships in an environmental context, the research process as such is mainly exploratory. Following an abductive approach, the insights from literature are combined with empirical data from two cases studies, a homepage scan, a survey and a study of city logistics projects. Most of the applied research methods take a dual perspective of relationships between supply chain actors and thus include both LSPs and shippers. One conclusion from the research conducted for this thesis comprises the identification of environmental activities as well as a suggestion for a classification based on the activities’ role in the business between LSPs and shippers. With a starting point in the identified activities, a comparison of a market perspective and a relationship perspective of environmental activities in LSP-shipper relationships indicates that LSPs are able to fulfil the requirements set by shippers and that shippers’ requirement thus are met. The research does, however, point to a passiveness among LSPs in their relationships with shippers, who in turn would like the LSPs to be more proactive. Further, based on an analysis of power balances in LSP-shipper relationships, it is suggested that in an LSP-shipper relationship in which the shipper has a power advantage, the shipper’s environmental ambitions for logistics sets the agenda for the environmental activities in that relationship. An analysis of coordination of environmental activities in LSP-shipper relationships indicates that the mechanisms of direct supervision, which is when one actor tells the other actor in the relationship what to do, and mutual adjustment can be chosen to be used in order to include environmental activities in LSP-shipper relationships. While direct supervision is suggested to be a coordination mechanism that is easy for shippers to apply, mutual adjustment appears to hold greater potential for the development of environmental activities. Finally, these findings in combination are suggested to have implications for the coordination of environmental activities in LSP-shipper relationships. More specifically, this thesis offers a categorisation of different types of LSP-shipper relationships and the involved actors’ environmental ambition. Depending on whether the environmental ambition of the LSP and shipper in a specific relationship is high or low appears to have implications for the possibility to work towards greener supply chains for each type of relationship. / Många företag känner av pressen av agera för att minska sin miljöpåverkan. Flera företag har också insett att ett sådant agerande även har affärsmässiga fördelar. När det gäller miljöpåverkan så tillhör logistikföretagen, till stor del på grund av sina transporter, de företag som insett att något måste göras. Möjligheten för dessa företag att göra olika miljöåtgärder påverkas av varuägarna som köper logistikföretagens tjänster. Som en följd av detta blir länken mellan dessa företag – relationen – viktig för att möjliggöra förbättringar när det gäller påverkan från logistiken. Denna avhandling har som syfte att beskriva och förklara hur aktörer i försörjningskedjan, med ett speciellt fokus på relationer mellan logistikföretag och varuägare, kan inkludera miljöåtgärder i sina relationer med varandra. För att över huvud taget kunna diskutera miljöåtgärder i relationer mellan logistikföretag och varuägare så är det viktigt att veta vad för typer av miljöåtgärder detta kan röra sig om. Första forskningsfrågan i avhandlingen behandlar detta och i avhandlingen identifieras ett antal sådana åtgärder. Det kan röra sig om relativt tekniska åtgärder så som alternativa bränslen, olika typer av fordon och energieffektiv körning, till åtgärder som handlar om styrning av logistiken, så som design av logistiksystemen, till åtgärder som är väldigt relationsspecifika som exempelvis specifika projekt eller miljögrupper. Med avstamp i de identifierade åtgärderna analyseras sedan relationerna mellan logistikföretag och varuägare i några olika steg. En jämförelse mellan logistikföretagens och varuägarnas perspektiv på de miljöåtgärder som erbjuds, efterfrågas samt ingår i relationerna dem emellan visar att logistikföretagen ofta kan tillgodose sina kunders önskemål. Samtidigt som detta visar att varuägarnas önskemål verkar vara uppfyllda, så finns det en frustration från varuägarnas sida över att logistikföretagen inte är mer proaktiva. En av anledningarna till detta kan vara maktbalansen mellan logistikföretag och varuägare. Resultaten i avhandlingen pekar nämligen på att varuägarna oftast har makten över logistikföretagen, vilket verkar leda till att varuägarens ambitioner gällande miljö ofta är det som sätter agendan för vilka miljöåtgärder som inkluderas i relationen mellan dessa företag. Vidare så kan de miljöåtgärder som ingår i en relation mellan logistikföretag och varuägare koordineras på olika sätt och flera sådana tas upp i avhandlingen. Resultaten pekar även på att maktbalansen i relationerna påverkar i vilken grad miljöåtgärder inkluderas i relationer mellan logistikföretag och varuägare samt hur dessa koordineras. En matris, som bygger på logistikföretagets och varuägarens ambitioner gällande miljö för en specifik relation, sammanfattar resultaten i avhandlingen. Beroende på om denna ambition är hög eller låg för de båda aktörerna påverkar i sin tur möjligheten för varje typ av relation att arbeta mot gröna försörjningskedjor.

THE INTERNET AND THE PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY-THE SCOPE OF LIABILITY OF INDIVIDUAL PERSONS WITHIN THE LAW OF THE EUROPEAN COMUNITIES AND THE USA Internet service providers' (or online service providers') liability for the copyright infringement incurred by an individual user of the Internet is not an absolutely new issue anymore. Not later than in 1998, the U.S. legislators enact the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). This amendment to the US copyright law introduces the concept of ,,safe harbor" that limits the online service providers' liability when they act only as a passive conduit and at the same time they do not have actual knowledge of the copyright infringement incurred through their systems. In the absence of such actual knowledge, they may not be aware of facts or circumstances from which infringing activity is apparent. Furthermore, an Online service provider is obliged upon obtaining such knowledge or awareness (e.g. by obtaining a notice), to act expeditiously to remove, or disable access to, the material. This requirement is well known as a ,,take down notice procedure". As a response to the U.S. regulation, in 2000, the European Commission and the European parliament pass the ,,so called" E-commerce directive regulating the liability of above mentioned subjects in...