This Master's thesis aims to perform a post-project appraisal of investment project under which it characterizes the quality of preparation, project evaluation and risk analysis in the form of feasibility study and specifies the objectives and content of post-project appraisal of investment project as a tool for learning from past mistakes and successes of investment projects. Within the achievement of the basic objective the thesis deals with the finding causes of variance between planned and actual project results through the usage of knowledge gained from the post-project appraisal and verification of benefits of its implementation. The thesis also processes through the gained knowledge of the post-project appraisal recommendations for improving the quality of the preparation, evaluation and risk analysis of similar projects in the future.

Germany is one of the pioneer countries in wind turbine technology. They installed many wind turbines during the last decades and are now confronted with a shortage of land suitable for new wind parks. Now, with an estimated wind turbine service life of 20 – 25 years whole wind parks are becoming obsolete and owners have to decide whether do decommission, repower or to continue the operation of their parks. The advantages of repowering as well as the bureaucratic hurdles are outlined and evaluated. This thesis deals with the repowering potential in North Rhine-Westphalia and is analysing the technical and economical possibilities of repowering. The main objectives are to identify wind turbines eligible for repowering and also to develop repowering scenarios in order to determine their techno-economic feasibility.  The designed steps of the methodology allow the census and the subsequent implementation of the results in WindPro and RETScreen.

Despite the availability of services, parents on antiretroviral treatment do not routinely get their children HIV tested and treated. The study aimed to document knowledge, attitudes and practices of parents towards HIV testing and treatment among children aged 0-14 years. A quantitative cross-sectional analytic study design was applied and a structured questionnaire used to collect data from 192 respondents. Findings show that 71.4% of respondents had correct knowledge of HIV transmission in children. Negative attitudes towards HIV testing of children were expressed by 42.2% of respondents while practices were reported by 16.7%. Practices were associated with self-efficacy, stigma, number of children and marital status. Knowledge and attitudes did not affect parental practices of HIV testing of children. Parents with low self-efficacy felt stigmatised, had negative attitudes, poor perception of availability of services and were unlikely to get children HIV tested. Recommendations to increase HIV testing among children included provision of skills and support to parents for HIV disclosure; localized care models to reduce stigma and identify children in need; and improving quality of services. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

It is evident that human activity has an important impact on climate. Constantly increasing energy demand is one of the biggest causes of climate change. The fifth assessment report of the Inter-governmental panel on climate change states that decarbonisation of electricity generation is a key component of climate change mitigation. Increased awareness of this fact and escalating concerns around energy security has brought public attention to the energy industry, especially sustainable power generation systems. Future energy systems may need to include hydrogen as an energy carrier in order to achieve necessary levels of CO2 emission reductions, and overcome the challenges renewable energy systems present. Fuel cells could be a corner stone of future hydrogen inclusive energy solutions. New solutions like fuel cells have to compete with existing technologies and overcome the shortcomings of emerging technology. Though these shortcomings are well-recognised, fuel cells also have many advantages which makes continued research and development in the field highly worthwhile and viable. Key to their adoption is the identification of a niche market to utilise their advantages while overcoming their shortcomings with continuous research and development. This thesis aims to evaluate some of the stationary fuel cell applications and determine whether one could become the niche market as an entry point for fuel cells. This is achieved by economic evaluations of real and hypothetical applications. Results of the studies here imply that to decrease the total life cycle impacts of fuel cells to more acceptable levels, resource use in the manufacturing phase and recycling in decommissioning should be shown more attention. Results also present a picture showing that none of the applications investigated are economically feasible, given the current state of technology and energy prices. However, fuel cell-based combined cooling, heating and power systems for data centres show the potential to become the niche market that fuel cells need to grow. A further conclusion is that a broad market, longer stack lifetime, the possibility of selling electricity back to the grid and governmental subsidies are essential components of an environment in which fuel cells can permeate through the niche market to the mainstream markets. / <p>QC 20151210</p>

The Industrial Laser is firmly established in metalcutting as the tool of choice for many applications. The elevator division of Montgomery KONE Inc., in an effort to move towards quality, ontime, complete deliveries and 100% customer satisfaction, decided to invest in new equipment to improve manufacturing processes. A huge investment is proposed for a laser-cutting machine. It is the responsibility of Manufacturing Engineering to direct the management by justifying its benefits, which includes payback time and financial gains. Factors such as common line cutting, automated material handling system and cutting time were involved in justification of the initial cost of a laser-cutting machine. Comparative statistics on appropriate factors accurately determine and justify the initial cost of a laser-cutting machine.

Background: Physical activity (PA) is a health protective behaviour that is critical in the reduction of most major chronic diseases. It also provides the participant with psychological benefits. Despite its well-established health benefits, PA engagement is low in the adult population. Women over the age of 60 are the least physically active segment and thus an important target for behaviour change interventions. Objective: The purpose of this mixed methods feasibility study was to explore the feasibility of six-week Self-Determination Theory (SDT)-based dance and walking programs for older women. Design: This was a parallel, randomized controlled trial with three groups: dance, walking, and wait-list control. This study included the sequential collection of quantitative then qualitative data (sequential explanatory design). Setting: This study was conducted in Victoria, BC. Participants: Participants were community-dwelling, English-speaking women aged 55-70 years who were not meeting PA guidelines. Methods: Data were collected at baseline and two endpoints: post-intervention at six weeks and follow-up at 12 weeks. The primary outcomes were feasibility measures: recruitment, intervention adherence, retention, and satisfaction. Survey data included self-reported PA (Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire) and measures of behavioural regulations and psychological needs (SDT constructs) using validated tools (Behavioural Regulations in Exercise Questionnaire-2 and Psychological Need Satisfaction in Exercise Scale). Qualitative data were collected in the form of open- and close-ended program evaluation questions and during focus group interviews, both occurring at post-intervention (six weeks). Results: The feasibility measures suggest that it is feasible to recruit and retain participants and that they were generally satisfied with the programs. Thirty-five of 37 randomized participants completed the study (mean age ± SD = 62.8 ± 4.8), representing a 39% recruitment rate and 95% retention rate. Both programs were highly attended. Exploratory effect sizes for the quantitative measures were promising for conducting a larger-scale trial. Emergent themes highlighted the importance of the leadership component of the group-based PA programs. Conclusion: This study had high protocol adherence, promising effect sizes, program evaluation satisfaction, and a recreation centre took on the dance program; these factors provide a foundation for expanding this feasibility trial to a full-scale study. / Graduate / 2017-12-01

Background: Stroke survivors often have persistent neural deficits related to motor function and sensation, which increase their risk of falling, most of which occurs at home or in community settings. The use of wearable technology to monitor fall risk and gait in stroke survivors may prove useful in enhancing recovery and/or preventing injuries. Objective: Determine the feasibility of using wearable technology (PAMSys (TM)) to objectively monitor fall risk and gait in home and community settings in stroke survivors. Methods: In this feasibility study, we used the PAMSys to identify fall risk indicators (postural transitions: duration in seconds, and number of unsuccessful attempts), and gait (steps, speed, duration) for 48 hours during usual daily activities in stroke survivors (n=10) compared to age-matched controls (n=10). A questionnaire assessed device acceptability. Results: Stroke survivors mean age was 70 +/- 8 years old, were mainly Caucasian (60%) women (70%), and not significantly different than the age-matched controls (all P-values >0.20). Stroke survivors (100%) reported that the device was comfortable to wear, didn't interfere with everyday activities, and were willing to wear it for another 48 hours. None reported any difficulty with the device while sleeping, removing/putting back on for showering or changing clothes. When compared to controls, stroke survivors had significantly worse fall risk indicators and walked less (P<0.05). Conclusion: Stroke survivors reported high acceptability of 48 hours of continuous PAMSys monitoring. The use of in-home wearable technology may prove useful in monitoring fall risk and gait in stroke survivors, potentially enhancing recovery.

This thesis contains three essays related to fixed investment and crude oil. The first essay examines the implications of building a cross-border oil infrastructure project within the context of the bargaining problem (the Nash bargaining solution, and the alternating offer bargain of Rubinstein). We examine the viability of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project, which is employed as a case study - for the multinational corporation, and the three host countries (Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Georgia) by examining the profitability of the project for each partner with two different bargaining formulations (simultaneous and sequential bargaining). The findings suggest that the project is feasible for the partners when the transit charge is greater than $3 per barrel (this is the Break-Even charge at which the project produces a zero total surplus); but for a tariff charge higher than this rate, the project generates returns for each participant greater than his outside option. Furthermore, the outcomes show how with bargaining over discounted flows, each bargaining scenario results in a different total surplus. Thus, the participants’ discount rates, their bargaining orders, and their outside options are the determinants of the gross payoffs they receive over the life of the project. The second essay examines the effect of oil abundance on domestic investment in 22 oil-exporting non-OECD countries over the period 1996-2010. Employing static and dynamic panel estimators, the oil impact is investigated in light of other investment determinants which reflect government policies including output growth, inflation, the exchange rate, and financial and openness factors. Estimation results indicate that oil abundance exerts an adverse effect on gross domestic investment in these countries, implying the necessity of improving institutional quality and oil management polices to better exploit oil revenues and direct them towards enhancing domestic investment, thereby sustained economic growth in these countries. The third essay examines the effect of the oil price and oil price volatility on domestic fixed investment in a group of oil-importing OECD countries from 1970 to 2012 within the framework of the production function. Estimation results indicate that there is a long run relationship running from oil prices and the other control variables (output, trade, inflation, and the exchange rate) to investment where the long run coefficient on the oil price is negative and significant, but the short run coefficient on oil prices is insignificant. Thus, the outcomes of this study indicate that high oil prices are contributing to investment decline, which affirms the importance of adopting long run energy policies that might lessen investment reliance on non-renewable energy sources.

Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Allen M. Featherstone / The landscape of the United States seed industry has changed substantially over the last 100 years. In the mid-1930s, there were 115 active seed corn companies marketing seed in the United States. By the 1980s, there were 303 hybrid seed corn companies and in 2016 there were 140 active hybrid seed corn companies in the United States. As the seed industry continues to evolve, so will the logistics and methods of which seed is sold to farm customers. The purpose of this thesis is to analyze and determine if a seed business expansion provides a positive net present value and rate of return for the management based on the capital costs of the investment and estimated income opportunities. Based on historical information of the existing business and the new market territory opportunities, a ten year projected cash flow was estimated to provide a basis for the net present value and internal rate of return analysis. Sensitivity analysis was applied to different variables in the cash flow model to identify variables of risk and the impact on the projected cash flow and net present value analysis. The projected cash flow model and net present value analysis provides management a basis for the decision to expand their existing business. The conclusion of the net present value and internal rate of return analysis was that the expansion of the seed business was profitable under most sensitivity scenarios. Recommendations were made for additional research that could be performed to maximize and diversify the business’s product offerings and net income.

Para se avaliar as possibilidades de expansão dos serviços municipais de saúde no Paraná procurou-se, primeiramente, fazer um diagnóstico do conjunto de serviços existentes no Estado. Em seguida foram pesquisadas as variáveis envolvidas com as possibilidades de expansão e realizado um estudo de caso sobre os serviços da Prefeitura Municipal de Londrina, que se constituem na rede municipal mais antiga do Paraná. Concluiu-se que existem varáveis favoráveis à municipalização como índices razoavelmente elevados de população aglomerada, distribuição territorial bastante homogênea dos maiores municípios, boa capilaridade da rede de unidades sanitárias do Estado e conjuntura politicamente favorável. Os principais entraves detectados encontram-se na área financeira, como a estrutura tributária nacional e o perfil de arrecadação do tesouro do Estado, bem como os percentuais de recursos do Estado destinados à área da saúde. Quanto ao município de Londrina a análise dos serviços reforça a idéia de viabilidade da municipalização e oferece dados que poderão orientar futuros serviços semelhantes. / The evaluation of the possible expansion of municipal health services began, initially, with a diagnosis existing health services throughout the state of Parana. At a second stage certain variables thought to be relevant to this possible expansion were analyzed. It was felt that there are variables favouring the locally-based expansion including the reasonably high indicators of population clusters, homogeneous territorial distribution of the larger cities, the wide distribution of the state sanitary units network, favorable political circumstances. The main obstacles encountered are in the financial sector, including the structure of the Brazilian rates and taxes, and the organization of collection by the state treasury as well as the resource percentages destinated for health by the state government. The study above is illustrated by a case-study that involves health services of the city of Londrina, wich are among the oldest in the state of Paraná, in the south of Brazil. This analysis of the health services of the city of Londrina has led to a reinforcement of the viability of expansion at a local level and offer data which may serve as a model for similar services in the future. xiii