This dissertation is divided into six chapters, as foHows: Chapter 1 of this dissertation discusses the growing significance of FDI for developing countries. It compares FDT in developed and developing countries and analyses recent evidence ofFDI flows to developing countries. Chapter 2 analyses the (endogenous and exogenous) detenninants ofFDI flows into developing countries. Chapter 3 discusses the importance of FDI flows, which are essential for new investments or for financing fortuitous deficits in host countries, and looks at the adjustment mechanisms for the equilibrium of the balance of payments. Chapter 4 gives attention to FDI flows, the liberalisation of financial markets and the financial account of the balance of payments in developing countries in providing more opportunities and mechanisms for development and economic growth. Finally, chapter S examines and compares FDI flows tu South Africa and Angola - the biggest FDI recipients on the African continent. / Economics / MCom (Economics)

This comparative study conducted within the framework of world system theory aimed to analyse the international flow of news regarding the 2003 Iraq War in online newspapers representative of centre, semi-peripheral and peripheral countries. Two of the newspapers represent centre nations directly involved in the war. Overall, the findings confirmed that the extensive war coverage of the newspapers can in part be attributed to the status of the USA and the UK as centre nations. The findings furthermore indicate the importance of both event and context-related factors as filters in the selection of items for news coverage of the war. Distinct differences emerged in the coverage of newspapers from the three spheres of the world system. These differences can be ascribed to the attitudes of the newspapers towards the war, the use of sources in the war coverage, the propaganda strategies deployed and the framing of the events / Communication Science / M. A. (Internal Communication)

The overall aim of this study was to understand the determinants of VCT uptake in the general population of Nigeria’s federal capital territory of Abuja. Uptake of VCT still remains low despite increased availability of VCT information and services in Abuja, Nigeria. A quantitative cross-sectional study was undertaken with 180 respondents from Abuja, using an adaptation of the Health Belief Model as conceptual framework, to elucidate the social demographics of respondents, their HIV/VCT knowledge, their perceptions of VCT facility design, societal support for VCT, and how HIV stigma shapes the phenomenon of VCT uptake in Abuja, Nigeria. The key findings were that a better understanding of HIV prevention, a perception of support from community and religious leaders, and access to HIV test services in government facilities are positive predictors of higher VCT uptake. Poor personal risk assessment and the cost of HIV testing were identified as the key barriers to VCT access. / Health Studies / M.P.H.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) has been rapidly on the ascendency in the recent years globally due to its co-infection with HIV/AIDS. TB case finding is one of the technical pillars of the Directly Observed Treatment Short course (DOTS) TB strategy and there has been advocacy for early TB case detection to be the new focus of TB control efforts. PURPOSE: The purpose of this non-experimental study was to assess the determinants of TB case finding among pulmonary TB patients registered for treatment in Makana Municipality METHOD: A quantitative, non-experimental, cross sectional descriptive study among PTB patients registered for treatment at the primary health care clinics in Makana Municipality was done. Data collection was by self-administered questionnaires while sampling was by systematic sampling of PTB patients at five systematically selected clinics. RESULTS: Patient–related delay contributed more to total delay, in this study sample, than health system-related delay. Health system delay was found to be significantly associated with poorer finances, passive smoking history, seeking care from multiple health providers, initially visiting a non- NTCP health provider, TB stigma , overcrowding in the household and having difficulty with breathing as an initial symptom (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: There was a significant delay in TB case finding among PTB patients in this local municipality and patient related determinants contributed more than health system related determinants to this delay. There is need for the municipal TB programme to embark on an aggressive health education programme to furnish the populace with accurate information about TB, improve their health seeking behaviour and help address the issue of stigma associated with TB. / Health Studies

Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) is a popular financial instrument and communication tool for the appraisal of companies. Often, companies management and other practitioners use untested rules and behavioural approach when investigating the key determinants of ROCE, instead of the scientific statistical paradigm. The aim of this dissertation was to identify and quantify key determinants of ROCE of individual companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), by comparing classical multiple linear regression, principal components regression, generalized least squares regression, and robust maximum likelihood regression approaches in order to improve companies decision making. Performance indicators used to arrive at the best approach were coefficient of determination ( ), adjusted ( , and Mean Square Residual (MSE). Since the ROCE variable had positive and negative values two separate analyses were done. The classical multiple linear regression models were constructed using stepwise directed search for dependent variable log ROCE for the two data sets. Assumptions were satisfied and problem of multicollinearity was addressed. For the positive ROCE data set, the classical multiple linear regression model had a of 0.928, an of 0.927, a MSE of 0.013, and the lead key determinant was Return on Equity (ROE),with positive elasticity, followed by Debt to Equity (D/E) and Capital Employed (CE), both with negative elasticities. The model showed good validation performance. For the negative ROCE data set, the classical multiple linear regression model had a of 0.666, an of 0.652, a MSE of 0.149, and the lead key determinant was Assets per Capital Employed (APCE) with positive effect, followed by Return on Assets (ROA) and Market Capitalization (MC), both with negative effects. The model showed poor validation performance. The results indicated more and less precision than those found by previous studies. This suggested that the key determinants are also important sources of variability in ROCE of individual companies that management need to work with. To handle the problem of multicollinearity in the data, principal components were selected using Kaiser-Guttman criterion. The principal components regression model was constructed using dependent variable log ROCE for the two data sets. Assumptions were satisfied. For the positive ROCE data set, the principal components regression model had a of 0.929, an of 0.929, a MSE of 0.069, and the lead key determinant was PC4 (log ROA, log ROE, log Operating Profit Margin (OPM)) and followed by PC2 (log Earnings Yield (EY), log Price to Earnings (P/E)), both with positive effects. The model resulted in a satisfactory validation performance. For the negative ROCE data set, the principal components regression model had a of 0.544, an of 0.532, a MSE of 0.167, and the lead key determinant was PC3 (ROA, EY, APCE) and followed by PC1 (MC, CE), both with negative effects. The model indicated an accurate validation performance. The results showed that the use of principal components as independent variables did not improve classical multiple linear regression model prediction in our data. This implied that the key determinants are less important sources of variability in ROCE of individual companies that management need to work with. Generalized least square regression was used to assess heteroscedasticity and dependences in the data. It was constructed using stepwise directed search for dependent variable ROCE for the two data sets. For the positive ROCE data set, the weighted generalized least squares regression model had a of 0.920, an of 0.919, a MSE of 0.044, and the lead key determinant was ROE with positive effect, followed by D/E with negative effect, Dividend Yield (DY) with positive effect and lastly CE with negative effect. The model indicated an accurate validation performance. For the negative ROCE data set, the weighted generalized least squares regression model had a of 0.559, an of 0.548, a MSE of 57.125, and the lead key determinant was APCE and followed by ROA, both with positive effects.The model showed a weak validation performance. The results suggested that the key determinants are less important sources of variability in ROCE of individual companies that management need to work with. Robust maximum likelihood regression was employed to handle the problem of contamination in the data. It was constructed using stepwise directed search for dependent variable ROCE for the two data sets. For the positive ROCE data set, the robust maximum likelihood regression model had a of 0.998, an of 0.997, a MSE of 6.739, and the lead key determinant was ROE with positive effect, followed by DY and lastly D/E, both with negative effects. The model showed a strong validation performance. For the negative ROCE data set, the robust maximum likelihood regression model had a of 0.990, an of 0.984, a MSE of 98.883, and the lead key determinant was APCE with positive effect and followed by ROA with negative effect. The model also showed a strong validation performance. The results reflected that the key determinants are major sources of variability in ROCE of individual companies that management need to work with. Overall, the findings showed that the use of robust maximum likelihood regression provided more precise results compared to those obtained using the three competing approaches, because it is more consistent, sufficient and efficient; has a higher breakdown point and no conditions. Companies management can establish and control proper marketing strategies using the key determinants, and results of these strategies can see an improvement in ROCE. / Mathematical Sciences / M. Sc. (Statistics)

Streptococcus agalactiae is a pathogen of multiple hosts. The bacterium, an aetiological agent of septicaemia and meningo-encephalitis in freshwater and saltwater fish species, is considered a major threat to the aquaculture industry, particularly for tilapia. Cattle and humans are however the main known reservoirs for S. agalactiae. In humans, the bacterium (commonly referred to as Group B Streptococcus or GBS) is a member of the commensal microflora of the intestinal and genito-urinary tracts, but it is also a major cause of neonatal invasive disease and an emerging pathogen in adults. In cattle, S. agalactiae is a well-recognized causative agent of mastitis. Numerous studies focusing on S. agalactiae from human and bovine origins have provided insight into the population structure of the bacterium, as well as the genome content and pathogenic mechanisms through identification of virulence determinants. Concerning S. agalactiae from aquatic origins, scientific information mainly focused on case reporting and/or experimental challenges, with a limited or absence of information in terms of pathogenesis, virulence determinants and genotypes of the strains involved. The objective of this study was to enhance our understanding of the molecular epidemiology, host-adaptation and pathogenicity of S. agalactiae in aquatic species, with particular emphasis on tilapia. Firstly, a collection of 33 piscine, amphibian and sea mammal isolates originating from several countries and continents was assembled, with the aim of exploring the population structure and potential host specificity of aquatic S. agalactiae. Isolates were characterised using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), and a standardised 3-set genotyping system comprising molecular serotypes, surface protein gene profiles and mobile genetic element profiles. Two major subpopulations were identified in fish. The first subpopulation consisted of non-haemolytic isolates that belonged to sequence type (ST) 260 or 261, which are STs that have been reported only from teleosts. These isolates exhibited a low level of genetic diversity by PFGE and clustered with other STs that have been reported only in fish. Another common feature was the absence of all surface protein genes or mobile genetic elements targeted as part of the 3-set genotyping and that are usually found in human or bovine isolates. The second subpopulation consisted of β-haemolytic isolates recovered from fish, frogs and sea mammals, and that exhibited medium to high genetic diversity by PFGE. STs identified among these isolates have previously been identified from strains associated with asymptomatic carriage and invasive disease in humans. The human pathogenic strain ST7 serotype Ia was detected in fish from Asia. Moreover, ST283 serotype III-4 and its novel single locus variant ST491 detected in fish from Southeast Asia shared a 3-set genotype identical to that of an emerging ST283 clone associated with invasive disease of adult humans in Asia. These observations suggested that some strains of aquatic S. agalactiae may present a zoonotic or anthroponotic hazard. STs found among the seal isolates (ST23) have also been reported from humans and numerous other host species, but never from teleosts. This work provided an excellent basis for exploration of the virulence of selected strains in experimental challenges. The virulence of two strains of S. agalactiae was experimentally investigated by intra-peritoneal infection of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), using an isolate originally recovered from fish and belonging to ST260, and an isolate originating from a grey seal and belonging to ST23. The clinical signs, the in vivo distribution of viable bacteria and bacterial antigens, and the gross and histopathological lesions that developed during the time course of the infection were investigated. The ST260 strain was highly virulent, whereas no major clinical sign or mortalities occurred in the fish challenged with the ST23 strain. After injection, both strains however gained access to the bloodstream and viable bacteria were recovered from all organs under investigation. During the early stages of infection, bacteria were mostly found within the reticulo-endothelial system of the spleen and kidney. Thereafter, the ST260 demonstrated a particular tropism for the brain and the heart, but granulomatous inflammation and associated necrotic lesions were observed in all organs. ST23 was responsible for a mixed inflammatory response associated with the presence of bacteria in the choroid rete and in the pancreatic tissue only. After 7 days post-challenge and for both strain, the formation or containment of bacteria within granulomata or other encapsulated structures appeared to be a major component of the fish response. However, the load of viable bacteria remained high within organs of fish infected with ST260, suggesting that, unlike ST23, this strain is able to survive within macrophages and/or to evade the immune system of the fish. This work demonstrates that the lack of report of ST23 strains in fish is possibly not due to a lack of exposure but to a lack of virulence in this host. The two strains, which differ in prevalence and virulence in fish, provide an excellent basis to investigate genomic differences underlying the host-association of distinct S. agalactiae subpopulations. The genome of the ST260 strain used in challenge studies was sequenced. We therefore provided the first description for the genome sequence of a non-haemolytic S. agalactiae isolated from tilapia (strain STIR-CD-17) and that belongs by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) to clonal complex (CC) 552, which corresponds to a presumptive fish-adapted subgroup of S. agalactiae. The genome was compared to 13 S. agalactiae genomes of human (n=7), bovine (n=2), fish (n=3) and unknown (n=1) origins. Phylogenetic analysis based on the core genome identified isolates of CC552 as the most diverged of all S. agalactiae studied. Conversely, genomes from β-haemolytic isolates of CC7 recovered from fish were found to cluster with human isolates of CC7, further supporting the possibility that some strains may represent a zoonotic or anthroponotic hazard. Comparative analysis of the accessory genome enabled the identification of a cluster of genes uniquely shared between CC7 and CC552, which encode proteins that may provide enhanced fitness in specific niches. Other genes identified were specific to STIR-CD-17 or to CC552 based on genomic comparisons; however the extension of this analysis through the PCR screening of a larger population of S. agalactiae suggested that some of these genes may occasionally be present in isolates belonging to CC7. Some of these genes, occurring in clusters, exhibited typical signatures of mobile genetic elements, suggesting their acquisition through horizontal gene transfer. It is not possible to date to determine whether these genes were acquired through intraspecies transfer or through interspecies transfer from the aquatic environment. Finally, general features of STIR-CD-17 highlighted a distinctive genome characterised by an absence of well conserved insertion sequences, an abundance of pseudogenes, a smaller genomic size than normally observed among human or bovine S. agalactiae, and an apparent loss of metabolic functions considered conserved within the bacterial species, indicating that the fish-adapted subgroup of isolates (CC552) has undergone niche restriction. Finally, genes encoding recognised virulence factors in human S. agalactiae were selected and their presence and structural conservation was evaluated within the genome of STIR-CD-17.

Background: People who use illegal drugs are disproportionately affected by HIV and hepatitis C, stigmatization and social exclusion. Health inequities are worsened by drug policy of criminalization, which thwarts health promotion efforts and hinders access to services. To address these inequities, people who use drugs are increasingly included in decisions that affect them by sitting on policy, service delivery and research committees. This study addressed a gap in understanding how power inequities are transformed in committees where people who use drugs are at the table. Methods: In partnership with the Drug Users Advocacy League and the Society of Living Illicit Drugs Users, this participatory critical emancipatory inquiry explored power relations in four committees in Ontario and BC. Data were collected in 2013 through meeting observations, interviews, demographics surveys and document reviews. Data analysis was guided by theoretical frameworks grounded in critical theory and transformative learning theory. Results: Findings confirmed striking socioeconomic inequities between people who use drugs and others at the table. Inconsistent measures were taken by committees to alleviate barriers to inclusion. Despite openness to inclusion, committee members tended to underestimate people who use drugs. The presence of local organizations of people who use drugs ensured a more democratic selection of their representatives to sit on committees. Once at the table, creating a safe space entailed building trust, authentic relationships, relational and reflective dialogue, and skilled facilitation. Democratic practices of negotiated relationships and consensus-based decision-making enhanced meaningful inclusion. A structural environment in which drug policy criminalizes people who use illegal drugs hindered capacity to transform power inequities by feeding stigma, which worsens health and social inequities. Committees were committed to inclusion of people who use drugs though capacity to do so varied due to budgetary and human resources constraints. Study limitations, practice implications and future research directions are offered. / Graduate / 0700 / 0680 / lynnebel@uvic.ca

Thesis (MDF (Development Finance))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: It is a fact that development aid represents the single most important source of external finance for most developing countries. This study sought to answer an important question relating to whether aid has a positive impact on economic growth or not. There is much literature on the subject and the views are quite diverse. Using the World Development Indicators (WDI) data, a cross-section regression analysis was performed over a period of 16 years and existing literature on the subject was re-examined. Of importance, this study tries to understand what the determinants or triggers of economic growth are, especially in developing economies. The results show that, although no significant relationship could be found between economic growth and development aid, there is strong evidence that there is a significant positive relationship between economic growth and the important triggers of economic growth used in the study, namely exports and investments. These are important components for the growth of any economy. The implicit conclusion is that since these two components are being impacted positively by aid, it follows then that the link between economic growth and aid can be considered to be a positive one. These findings go against the critics of development aid who maintain that aid that is being pumped into developing economies, especially the African continent, is actually just going into a big black hole and could be used more effectively somewhere else. This study proves that this is not the case and donor countries need to intensify their efforts of providing aid to poor countries because they need it and it is actually making a difference. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dit is ‘n algemeen aanvaarde feit dat ontwikkelingsteun die enkel belangrikste bron van eksterne finansiering is vir die meeste ontwikkelende lande. Hierdie studie poog om antwoorde te vind vir die belangrike vraag of steun ‘n positiewe impak op ekonomiese groei het of nie. Daar is volop literatuur oor die onderwerp beskikbaar en die opvattings is uiters uiteenlopend. Deur die World Development Indicators data te gebruik, is ‘n deursnit regressie analise gedoen oor ‘n periode van 16 jaar en bestaande literatuur oor die onderwerp is weer ondersoek. Die belangrikste oogmerk van die studie is om te probeer verstaan wat die bepalers of snellers van ekonomiese groei is, veral in ontwikkelende ekonomië. Die uitslae toon dat, alhoewel daar geen beduidende verhouding gevind kon word tussen ekonomiese groei en ontwikkelingsteun nie, daar wel sterk bewyse is vir ‘n beduidende positiewe verhouding tussen ekonomiese groei en die belangrike snellers van ekonomiese groei soos gebruik in die studie, naamlik uitvoere en beleggings. Hierdie is belangrike komponente vir die groei van enige ekonomie. Die implisiete afleiding is dus dat, aangesien hierdie twee komponente positief beïnvloed word deur ontwikkelingsteun, dit volg dat die skakel tussen ekonomiese groei en steun ook as ‘n positiewe een beskou kan word. Hierdie bevindings is lynreg in teenstelling met die kritici van ontwikkelingsteun wat handhaaf dat steun wat aan ontwikkelende lande, veral in Afrika, gegee word, eintlik net in ‘n groot swart gat verdwyn en meer effektief elders aangewend kan word. Hierdie studie bewys dat dit nie die geval is nie en dat skenker lande eerder hulle pogings om steun aan arm lande te bied moet verskerp omdat hulle dit nodig het en omdat dit regtig ‘n verskil maak.

1978年中國大陸在經濟上採取改革開放政策後，中國大陸克服資金不足、技術落後等問題，經濟快速成長、人民生活水準和人均生產總值皆大幅提升。但中國大陸內部卻面臨各地區經濟發展的程度有極大落差的困局。為此，中國大陸政府提出多項區域發展政策，期能撫平區域發展不均衡的差距，「西部大開發」即為其中之一，希望能藉此一舉改善西部目前發展上的弱勢。但是西部地區要脫離落後狀態朝向發展所需要之條件究竟為何?西部大開發政策所切入之角度是否正中西部所需?本文將由影響外商投資西部的決定性因素，來評估西部大開發政策之成效。透過1997至2005年外商對中國西部地區投資的追蹤資料，搭配固定效果模型的估計，分析影響外商至西部進行投資的趨勢及決定性因素為何，並以估計之結果檢視「西部大開發」政策是否切中西部發展所需，確實改善西部投資環境。 根據實證結果顯示，吸引外商至西部進行投資的決定性因素有四，分別為相對工資率、基礎建設、礦產資源，以及外資開放程度。其他的變數如市場大小、勞動力素質、國營企業比重、中央移轉性支付比例以及優惠政策等，皆未有顯著影響。 關鍵詞：西部大開發、外來直接投資、固定效果模型、決定因素 分類號：B23、C33、F21、R58 / Since China has adopted the so-called “open door policy” in 1978, it has overcame its shortage of economic investment and lagged technology by accepting foreign direct investment（FDI） and the “east-tilted” policy. Two decades later, while China enjoys its high economic growth rate, it has to solve the dilemma of keeping economy growing or balancing the regional disparity. Hence the China government has proposed the “Western Region Development” policy to facilitate the slow-growing economy in west China. Since FDI has played an important role in China economical development, the purpose of this study is to investigate the foreign direct investment in West China, and the flowing issue is using the results to evaluate the efficiency of Western Region Development policy, to see if the policy meet the need of western regional development. This study has based upon the panel data for western region during the period of 1997-2005 and fixed-effect model to investigate the determinants of FDI in West China. The result shows relative wage rate, infrastructure, mine resource, and openness to the rest of the world. Finally, in order to reduce the mistakes occurred in models and enable the study more rigorous, uses more methods to test the models and the result. Keywords: Western Region Development, Fixed-Effect Model, Foreign Direct Investment, Determinants JEL Classification: B23、C33、F21、R58

在以往探討非財務性績效指標與財務績效指標關係的相關文獻中，大多以品質、顧客滿意度、瑕疵率及準時送達率為主，甚少討論顧客生命週期時間（customer lifetime）。本研究主要探索顧客生命週期時間與顧客獲利力的關係、顧客生命週期時間的影響因素與多重通路的相關議題。 本文以一家大型電視購物業的公司為個案，64,632名顧客30個月的交易資料為樣本，實證結果發現：（一） 顧客生命週期時間與顧客獲利力的關係為正向關係。（二）顧客的交易金額與顧客生命週期時間呈正向關係；平均間隔購買時間、自有品牌與耐久財對顧客生命週期時間的關係為反向關係；退貨次數與顧客生命週期時間是U字形關係。（三）自電視購物通路所取得的顧客，未來的顧客生命週期時間會較短，但自型錄通路所取得的顧客則會較長；來自電視通路的顧客利潤顯著高於其它通路。（四）使用多重通路的顧客其顧客生命週期時間顯著高於單一通路的使用者，但顧客利潤則顯著低於單一通路的使用者。 / Non-financial measures have been widely advocated and adopted, such as quality, customer satisfaction, defective rate, and on-time delivery rate. However, empirical research has little focus on customer lifetime. This study explores (1) the relationship between customer lifetime and customer profitability; (2) the determinants of customer lifetime; (3) the impact of multi-channel shopping on customer profitability and customer lifetime. Using 64,632 customers level data (30 months) from a large TV Shopping company, this study finds: (1) the relationship between customer lifetime and customer profitability is positive; (2) customer transaction amount is positively related to customer lifetime duration; average interpurchase time, private brand, and durable goods are negatively related to customer lifetime duration; the relationship between customer’s return frequency and customer lifetime is U shape; (3) the customer lifetime duration of TV channel customers is shorter than that of other channel customers, but the customer profitability of TV channel customers is larger than that of other channel customers; (4) the customer lifetime duration of multi-channel customers is longer than that of single channel shoppers, but the customer profitability of multi-channel customers is less than that of single channel customers.