<p>This thesis focuses on three important topics in corporate finance: corporate governance, management efforts to avoid debt covenant violations and the cost of such violations. The thesis adds to these aspects of the finance literature and the findings are reported in chapters two, three and four.</p> <p>The second chapter focuses on the role of corporate governance in determining the interactions between financial leverage and profits and attests to the validity of the trade-off theory of capital structure. It examines management’s financing choice behaviour in distinctly different corporate governance settings to ascertain the effect of governance mechanisms on such behavior. The estimation methodology allows for financial leverage, profits and governance to be determined jointly, using an instrumental variable approach. The results of the paper demonstrate that leverage is increasing in profits when controlled for agency problems, and good governance firms exhibit the results predicted by the trade-off theory of capital structure.</p> <p>The third chapter examines management’s earnings manipulation activities around debt covenant violation through accrual manipulation and real earnings management. Covenant restrictions are expected to influence these activities in the quarters surrounding and the quarter of the violation. Cross-sectional analyses reveal the use of such strategies to report higher earnings in the periods surrounding the covenant violation. The results also show disparity in the use of accrual based and real earnings management techniques.</p> <p>The fourth chapter investigates the relation between debt covenant violation and the cost of new borrowing from three different aspects: the incidence of violation, the timing of violation and the frequency of violation. The results show that there are significant benefits to not violating a debt covenant and violators are penalized by the creditors for not upholding the contractual restrictions.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Text in Afrikaans / The research is aimed at the problems surrounding traffic violations and crimes. Firstly, attention is paid to the extent of the problem. Secondly, a theoretical explanation of the problem is offered. This is followed by an exposition of the empirical study which is focused on the perception of road users in the Pretoria municipal area relating to four aspects namely; traffic legislation and traffic law enforcement, traffic violations, adjudication of traffic offences and punishment of traffic offenders. Lastly, the prevention of traffic violations and crimes and specific prevention strategies are conducted and discussed. The research report is concluded with specific conclusions and certain recomendations are offered to deal with the problem. / Die navorsing is toegespits op die problematiek random verkeersoortredings en -misdade. Eerstens word aandag aan die omvang van die probleem geskenk. Tweedens word daar op die teoretiese verklaring van die probleem gekonsentreer. Hierna volg 'n uiteensetting van die empiriese studie wat toegespits is op die persepsie van padgebruikers in die Pretoria- munispale gebied betreffende 'n aantal aspekte ten opsigte van verkeerswetgewing en verkeerswettoepassing, verkeersoortredings, straf asook beregting van verkeersoortredings. Laastens word die voorkoming van verkeersoortredings en -misdade en bepaalde voorkomingstrategiee oorweeg en bespreek. Die navorsingsverslag word beeindig met bepaalde gevolgtrekkings en daar word ook sekere aanbevelings om die probleem te kan hanteer, aangebied. / Sociology / M.A. (Kriminologie)

Global demand for peacekeeping is growing, especially in Africa. The United Nations has traditionally been at the forefront of developing peacekeeping theory and practice, and remains the primary operational agency for peacekeeping in Africa. But increasing emphasis is being placed on the African Union to assume greater responsibility for peacekeeping on the continent. The AU is still comparatively new and is in the process of developing its peace and security architecture. Over the past decade, the international community has been supporting African peacekeeping, both to build AU capacity and to provide direct operational support. In 2005 the international community agreed a collective 'responsibility to protect' vulnerable civilians threatened by gross violations of their human rights. And civilian protection is increasingly included in the mandates of peacekeeping missions. Within the context of contemporary complex, multidimensional peacekeeping ('peace support'), civilian protection is not an exclusive operational objective, but is rather one of a number of mandated tasks aimed at establishing more sustainable security as part of a broader peacebuilding goal. The AU has embraced the responsibility to protect principle, adopting a constitutional commitment to protect the rights of vulnerable civilians, including through peacekeeping interventions if necessary. But how capable is the AU in practice to deliver effective peacekeeping to protect civilians? And how appropriate is international support to help realise this ambition?

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis discusses ethical dilemmas faced by district surgeons in South Africa. District surgeons render clinical forensic services, which means that they deal mainly with detainees and victims of crime. The main functions of district surgeons are the collection of forensic evidence from patients and the care of detainees. So the focus is to assist in the administration of justice rather than improvement of patient wellbeing. The district surgeon may therefore find himself in a situation where patients’ interests are in conflict with those of law enforcement agencies. Being a medical practitioner in clinical forensic medicine, the district surgeon has an obligation to assist in the administration of justice, as opposed to the traditional obligation to care for patients and put patient’s interests first. This allegiance to both administration of justice as well as patient wellbeing lead to an ethical dilemma of dual loyalties. A dual obligations presents an ethical dilemma for the district surgeon, especially if they are in conflict and mutually exclusive. I discuss the detention and subsequent death of Steve Biko to illustrate how dual obligations can lead to serious human rights violations and even death. Dual obligations are however not limited to detainees and police custody settings, and I demonstrate this by discussing three other scenarios commonly encountered by district surgeons. There is a lack clear guidance for district surgeons who are faced with a conflict of obligations. I explore several ethical theories including consequentialism, deontology and virtue ethics, in search of an ethical framework suitable for resolving conflicts in clinical forensic medicine. I therefore argue that a duty based ethical framework is central to clinical forensic medicine and the resolution of loyalty conflicts. I recommend the resolution of conflicts by using an approach developed by Benjamin (2006). This approach involves weighing -up the different duties in conflict, applying philosophical reasoning and then amelioration. By adopting a structured and wellreasoned ethical framework, district surgeons will be able to deal with conflicts of obligations better. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis bespreek etiese dilemmas wat in die gesig gestaar word deur distriksgeneeshere in Suid-Afrika. Distriksgeneeshere lewer kliniese forensiese dienste, wat beteken dat hulle handel hoofsaaklik oor die gevangenes en slagoffers van misdaad. Die belangrikste funksies van distriksgeneeshere is die insameling van forensiese getuienis van pasiënte, en die sorg van gevangenes. Met hierdie benadering is die fokus om te help met die administratiewe doeleindes van geregtigheid, eerder as die verbetering van die pasiënt se welstand. Die distriksgeneesheer kan hom dus in 'n situasie vind waarby die pasiënte se belange in konflik is met dié van wetstoepassingsagentskappe. As 'n geneesheer in kliniese forensiese geneeskunde, het die distriksgeneesheer 'n verpligting om te help met die administrasie van geregtigheid, in teenstelling met die tradisionele verpligting om te sorg vir hul pasiënte, en hul welstand eerste te plaas. Hierdie getrouheid gaan gepaard met beide regspleging, sowel as die welstand van die pasiënt, wat kan lei tot 'n etiese dilemma van dubbele lojaliteit. Dubbele verpligtinge bied 'n etiese dilemma vir die distriksgeneesheer, veral as hulle in konflik en wedersyds uitsluitend is. Ek bespreek die aanhouding en die daaropvolgende dood van Steve Biko om te illustreer hoe dubbele verpligtinge kan lei tot ernstige skending van menseregte en selfs die dood. Dubbele verpligtinge is egter nie beperk tot die gevangenes en polisie-aanhouding instellings nie, en ek demonstreer dit deur die bespreking van drie ander “scenario's” wat oor die algemeen eervaar word deur distriksgeneeshere. Daar is 'n gebrek aan duidelike riglyne vir distriksgeneeshere wat 'n botsing van verpligtinge in die gesig staar. Ek verken verskeie etiese teorieë insluitende konsekwensialisme, deontologie en deugde-etiek, op soek na 'n etiese raamwerk geskik vir die oplossing van konflikte in kliniese geregtelike geneeskunde. Ek argumenteer dus dat 'n pligsgebaseerde etiese raamwerk sentraal is tot kliniese forensiese geneeskunde, en die resolusie van lojaliteit konflikte. Ek beveel die oplossing van konflikte deur die gebruik van 'n benadering wat ontwikkel is deur Benjamin (2006). Hierdie benadering behels 'n gewigsoorweging tussen die verskillende pligte in konflik, die toepassing van filosofiese redenasie en verbetering. Deur die aanneming van 'n gestruktureerde en beredeneerde etiese raamwerk, sal distriksgeneeshere dus in staat wees om konflikte van verpligtinge beter te hanteer.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The deteriorating human rights situations in Myanmar and Zimbabwe have drawn concerns from the international community. Mainly Western states and NGOs have criticised both governments and urged strong action from the regional organisations, namely ASEAN and SADC. However, because of the deeply rooted non-intervention norm in these regions, Southeast Asia and Southern Africa, the human rights situation in both states long remained serious. Recently however, ASEAN has taken up a strong stance towards Myanmar. On the contrary, SADC has showed reluctance to respond to the human rights violations in Zimbabwe. The question arises why these two regional organisations have showed different responses? In other words, the ASEAN member states have become relaxed and accepted the new human rights norm, discarding the traditional non-intervention norm, while the SADC member states still stick to the norm of non-intervention. In order to find answers, the focus in this thesis is on the process of socialisation which means that the actors adopt new norms which are also accepted by society as a whole. Three mechanisms which lead to socialisation, namely strategic calculation, role-playing and normative suasion, are discussed. The conclusion reached is that regional organisation can play a role in inducing the member states to accept the new norm, in the process the regional organisation is also socialised through interaction with other international organisations and actors. Here, historical background, and particularly the process of gaining independence in SADC heavily influenced the socialisation process in this region. SADC member states‘ liberation struggle against colonialism and apartheid led to the formation of strong bonds among member states that has made it difficult for respective state leaders to criticise each other. Such strong bonds do not exist in Southeast Asia. In Southeast Asia, member states interact actively with external actors such as the EU and NGOs. Thus they become receptive to human rights norms; in turn, the regional organisation itself has been socialised and has become relaxed enough to discard the non-intervention norm. Also an increasingly large middle class has become interested in the human rights situation in its neighbouring countries. These are the factors which have led to the differing responses from ASEAN and SADC to human rights abuses in their regions. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Nadat hulle onafhanklikheid gekry het, het die menseregte situasie in Myanmar en Zimbabwe agteruitgegaan. Die internasionale gemeenskap, meestal Westerse state en nie-regerings organisasies het albei regerings gekritiseer en die streeksorganisasies, naamlik ASEAN en SADC, dringend versoek om streng op te tree. Weens die diep-gewortelde nie-intervensie norm in beide Suidoos-Asië en Suider-Afrika het die menseregte situasie egter lank ernstig gebly. ASEAN het egter meer onlangs sterk standpunt ingeneem teenoor Myanmar. Maar SADC is nog steeds onwillig om te reageer op die menseregte vergrype in Zimbabwe. Die vraag is nou waarom hierdie twee streeksorganisasies so verskillend opgetree het. Die lidstate van ASEAN het ontspanne geraak en die nuwe menseregte norme aanvaar en die tradisionele nie-intervensie norm laat vaar, terwyl SADC lidstate nog hou by die nie-intervensie norm . In die soek na antwoorde, is die fokus van hierdie tesis op die proses van sosialisering wat beteken dat die akteurs nuwe norme wat deur die internasionale gemeenskap as geheel aanvaar word, aanneem. Die drie meganismes wat lei tot sosialisering, naamlik strategiese berekening, rol-speling en normatiewe oorreding, word bespreek. Die slotsom waartoe gekom word is dat streeksorganisasies ‘n rol kan speel in die oorreding van lidstate om die nuwe norm te aanvaar en dat die streeksorganisasies in die proses deur interaksie met ander internasionale organisasies en akteurs, self gesosialiseer word. Historiese agtergrond en veral die proses waardeur onafhanklikheid in die lande van Suider-Afrika verkry is, het die sosialisasie proses in die area beïnvloed. SADC lidstate se vryheidstryd teen kolonialisme en apartheid het sterk bande tussen lidstate gesmee en dit moeilik gemaak vir die leiers van die state om mekaar te kritiseer. Daar bestaan nie sulke sterk bande in Suidoos-Asië nie. Verder is daar in Suidoos-Asië aktiewe interaksie met ander organisasies soos die Europese Unie en met nie-regerings organisasies. Dus is hulle meer ontvanklik vir menseregte norms. Op hulle beurt is die streeksorganisasies ook gesosialiseer en het hulle ontspanne genoeg geraak om af te sien van die nie-intervensie norm. Die groeiende middelklas het ook geïnteresseerd geraak in die menseregte situasie in hulle eie en in die buurlande. Dit is die faktore wat gelei het tot die verskillende reaksies van ASEAN en SADC tot die menseregte vergrype in hulle onderskeie streke.

Este trabalho tem o objetivo de utilizar métodos de otimização não linear a fim de desenvolver uma metodologia eficiente para alocação de bancos de capacitores visando a eliminar violações de tensão em redes de distribuição. A aplicação de capacitores em paralelo a sistemas elétricos de potência é comumente empregada com o intuito de se obter melhor controle do fluxo de potência, gerenciamento do perfil de tensão, correção do fator de potência e minimização de perdas. Tendo em vista estes benefícios, a metodologia deste trabalho se dará por meio da resolução de um problema de programação não linear associada com a aproximação linear da relação potência reativa versus tensão para determinar o número, a localização e o dimensionamento dos bancos capacitores ao longo das linhas de distribuição. Desta forma, pretende-se minimizar a injeção de reativos e reduzir as perdas ativas totais de modo que todas as restrições de operação e de carga sejam atendidas. Os resultados são avaliados pelo programa GAMS (General Algebraic Modeling System), pelo MATLAB TM (Matrix Laboratory) e por um programa elaborado em Fortran, sendo possível analisar e descrever as contribuições alcançadas pelo presente trabalho, considerando que este é um tema de grande relevância para a operação e planejamento da expansão dos sistemas elétricos de potência. / This work aims to use nonlinear optimization methods to develop an efficient methodology for capacitor banks allocation to eliminate voltage violations in distribution networks. The application of capacitors in parallel to the electric power systems are commonly employed in order to have better control of power flow, voltage profile management, power factor correction and loss minimization. To achieve these benefits, the methodology of this work will be done through the resolution of a nonlinear programming problem associated with the linear approach of Voltage Variations versus Reactive Power Variation, calculating the number, location and optimal design of capacitor banks along distribution lines. Thus, it looks forward to minimize reactive power injection and reduce losses subject to meeting the operating and the loading constraints. The results are evaluated by the program GAMS TM (General Algebraic Modeling System), by Matlab TM (Matrix Laboratory) and by a program written in FORTRAN TM, being able to analyze and describe the contributions achieved by this work, considering it is a topic of great relevance to the operation and expansion planning of electric power systems.

Esta dissertação tem como objeto a análise do impacto da condenação do Brasil pela Corte Interamericana de Direitos Humanos no caso Guerrilha do Araguaia sobre a atuação do Ministério Público Federal na persecução penal das graves violações de direitos humanos ocorridas na ditadura militar no Brasil. Considerando a existência de uma norma global de responsabilização penal individual, verifica-se que a demanda doméstica de responsabilização dos agentes da ditadura foi submetida ao Sistema Interamericano de Direitos Humanos e retornou ao plano doméstico de modo a destravar a atuação institucional do Ministério Público Federal na pauta. Se antes da condenação pela corte internacional havia uma atuação de poucos procuradores, depois da sentença se verifica uma gradual institucionalização da pauta internamente no Ministério Público Federal, que tomou para si a determinação da Corte Interamericana de Direitos Humanos de responsabilização dos agentes da ditadura. O estudo discute a movimentação institucional do Ministério Público Federal na pauta, as teses adotadas pelos procuradores, as vinte e seis ações penais ajuizadas desde 2011, os obstáculos encontrados, a recepção do Judiciário e os desafios para a persecução penal hoje no Brasil. Assim, a dissertação sustenta que o Ministério Público Federal tem tido uma atuação fundamental como ator judicial interno na mobilização do direito internacional dos direitos humanos para fazer avançar a cascata da justiça, configurando-se como um ator central para o processo de justiça de transição no Brasil, que sempre encontrou uma limitação no aspecto da responsabilização penal em razão da Lei de Anistia. / This thesis aims to analyze the impact of Brazil\'s conviction by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights regarding the Araguaia Guerrilla on Federal Prosecution Service\'s (MPF) action, namely in the penal prosecution of gross human rights violations that occurred during Brazil\'s military dictatorship. Bearing in mind the existence of an international law of individual penal responsibility, it was noted that the domestic suit against dictatorship agents was submitted to the Inter-American System of Human Rights; it returned to the domestic sphere as to unlock the institutional action of MPF. Before the international court\'s conviction there was little action in the hands of few prosecutors. After the sentence, one can observe a gradual institutionalization and internalization of this subject in the MPF, which took on the responsibilization of dictatorship agents determined by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. The study discusses the institutional mobilization of MPF in the subject, prosecutors\' legal arguments, the 26 penal suits filed since 2011, obstacles found, Judiciary\'s reception, and challenges of criminal prosecution in Brazil. Hence, this thesis holds that the MPF has been crucial as a domestic judicial actor regarding the use of international human rights law to enforce the justice cascade, posing itself as a core actor for Brazil\'s transitional justice, which has been obstructed by the country\'s Amnesty law.

Este trabalho tem o objetivo de utilizar métodos de otimização não linear a fim de desenvolver uma metodologia eficiente para alocação de bancos de capacitores visando a eliminar violações de tensão em redes de distribuição. A aplicação de capacitores em paralelo a sistemas elétricos de potência é comumente empregada com o intuito de se obter melhor controle do fluxo de potência, gerenciamento do perfil de tensão, correção do fator de potência e minimização de perdas. Tendo em vista estes benefícios, a metodologia deste trabalho se dará por meio da resolução de um problema de programação não linear associada com a aproximação linear da relação potência reativa versus tensão para determinar o número, a localização e o dimensionamento dos bancos capacitores ao longo das linhas de distribuição. Desta forma, pretende-se minimizar a injeção de reativos e reduzir as perdas ativas totais de modo que todas as restrições de operação e de carga sejam atendidas. Os resultados são avaliados pelo programa GAMS (General Algebraic Modeling System), pelo MATLAB TM (Matrix Laboratory) e por um programa elaborado em Fortran, sendo possível analisar e descrever as contribuições alcançadas pelo presente trabalho, considerando que este é um tema de grande relevância para a operação e planejamento da expansão dos sistemas elétricos de potência. / This work aims to use nonlinear optimization methods to develop an efficient methodology for capacitor banks allocation to eliminate voltage violations in distribution networks. The application of capacitors in parallel to the electric power systems are commonly employed in order to have better control of power flow, voltage profile management, power factor correction and loss minimization. To achieve these benefits, the methodology of this work will be done through the resolution of a nonlinear programming problem associated with the linear approach of Voltage Variations versus Reactive Power Variation, calculating the number, location and optimal design of capacitor banks along distribution lines. Thus, it looks forward to minimize reactive power injection and reduce losses subject to meeting the operating and the loading constraints. The results are evaluated by the program GAMS TM (General Algebraic Modeling System), by Matlab TM (Matrix Laboratory) and by a program written in FORTRAN TM, being able to analyze and describe the contributions achieved by this work, considering it is a topic of great relevance to the operation and expansion planning of electric power systems.

Restaurant managers complete certification in food safety in order to ensure that food is handled and prepared in a manner that decreases risk factors associated with food-borne illness. However, the literature has been inconclusive concerning the connection between manager certification and the incidence of critical food-safety violations. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between the presence or absence of a certified food safety manager (CFSM) and the number of risk factors cited on food inspection reports and the food safety score. In addition, this study was designed to determine whether operation type (i.e., chain vs. independently owned) has an impact on the number of risk factors and food safety score. This study was an analysis of 2013 data from 1,547 restaurants in North, Central, and South Georgia health districts using a 2-tailed independent-sample t test. Restaurants with a CFSM had significantly more risk factors cited on food safety inspections and lower food safety scores than restaurants without a CFSM. There was also a significant difference among chain and independent restaurants. Chain restaurants had fewer risk factors cited on restaurant inspections and had higher food safety scores. In the epidemiological triangle model, breaking the chain of transmission disrupts the link among agent, host, and environment. Thus, CFSMs have the responsibility to implement food safety training programs to break the chain of transmission by identifying and correcting unsafe food practices among food workers. This study has the potential to assist managers in understanding the importance of food safety and implementing food safety training programs that decrease risk factors associated with food-borne illness. Further research is needed to explore the effectiveness of manager certification in reducing critical violations.

Sweden has long been nonaligned in peace with the aim to remain neutral in the event of an outbreak of war. Building confidence for this neutrality was important for Sweden during the Cold War. This placed high demands on the Swedish Navy to detect and repel violations of Swedish territorial waters. The archives, which contain the secret reports on the violations that occurred during the 1960s, have recently been opened up. The purpose of this essay is to study how the incidents that took place in Swedish territorial waters in the 1960s were managed and to examine if the handling of them was different depending on whether they were caused by the east or west side. Furthermore, the aim is also to try to categorize and interpret these measures from the two pairs of concepts of deterrence and reassurance and integration and screening. In making it possible to answer the questions, all the reports - 66 altogether - which refers to the incidents which occurred during the years 1962 through 1969, have been studied. Then the measures taken have been classified in order to be able to make a statement. Finally, these measures have been interpreted and categorized under each pair of concepts by using an analytical model. The study has shown that. East accounted for 62 % of all 66 incidents. The most exercised approach turned out to be no action at all. The results also show that there were differences in how to handle violations based on blocks belonging. The most obvious example is where no action at all took place and where it differed as much as 11 percent units between the blocks, depending on whether the incident was caused by east-or west. Furthermore, measures have been interpreted and categorized under the respective concepts. The main conclusions that could be drawn from the material studied is that there are differences in the management of incidents and that the most part of the measures taken against East could be categorized as reassurance. / Sverige har sedan en längre tid varit alliansfritt i fred med syfte att kunna vara neutralt i händelse av krig. Att skapa förtroende för denna neutralitetspolitik var viktigt för Sverige under det kalla kriget. Detta ställde höga krav på den svenska marinen att upptäcka och avvisa kränkningar av svenskt sjöterritorium. Arkiven, som innehåller de hemliga rapporter rörande de kränkningar som skedde under 1960-talet, har nyligen öppnats. Syftet med uppsatsen är att studera hur de incidenter som ägde rum på svenskt sjöterritorium under 1960-talet hanterades och att undersöka om hanteringen av dem skilde sig åt beroende av om de var orsakade av öst- respektive västblocken. Vidare är syftet också att försöka kategorisera och tolka dessa åtgärder utifrån de båda begreppsparen avskräckning och förtroendeskapande respektive integration och avskärmning. För att besvara frågeställningarna har samtliga rapporter - 66 stycken -, som avser de incidenter som inträffat under åren 1962 till och med 1969, studerats. Därefter har de vidtagna åtgärderna klassificerats för att en sammanställning skulle kunna göras. Slutligen har dessa åtgärder tolkats och kategoriserats under respektive begreppspar med hjälp av en analysmodell. Resultatet visar att Öst stod för 62 % av samtliga 66 incidenter. Den vanligaste åtgärden visade sig vara att inte vidtaga någon åtgärd alls. Resultatet visar också, att det fanns skillnader i hur man hanterade incidenter utifrån blocktillhörighet. Det tydligaste exemplet är där man inte vidtog någon åtgärd alls och där skilde det hela 11 procentenheter mellan blocken. Vidare har åtgärderna tolkats och kategoriserats under respektive begrepp. De viktigaste slutsatserna som kunnat dras från det studerade materialet är att det finns skillnader i hanteringen av incidenterna och att den övervägande andelen av åtgärder som vidtogs mot Öst kunde kategoriseras som förtroendeskapande.