Mining is an important sector of Zambia's economy. Using the Constitution, legislative measures, and other policy pronouncements, efforts are being made by the Zambian government to maximise opportunities for diversification and value addition from mining to other sectors of the economy. Opportunities have been identified mainly in the form of employment creation, skills development, increased production using local goods and services, and integration into the mining value chain. Traditionally, Zambia's mining industry has been dominated by foreign multinational companies since the early 1900s. Therefore, multinational companies as major capital investors are key actors that anchor other service providers in the mining value chain. Their involvement therefore largely contributes to, and in some instances detracts from, the success of these measures to maximise value addition. This research explores the interaction of these companies and other local Zambian businesses in the light of the country's goals for industrialisation and diversification in an integrated multi-sector economy. By analysing the overall legal and economic context in which multinational companies operate, this research demonstrates that illegal tax practices by multinational companies have discernible adverse effects on revenue where funds are syphoned out of the economy illicitly. Also, this research evaluates the multi-dimensional effects of these practices and emphasises that value addition efforts throughout the mining value chain are particularly adversely impacted. The research identifies and critiques inadequacies in the law that fail to address the resultant challenges for local businesses such as lost opportunities for funding and capacity.

A combination of fax and mail questionnaires were used to estimate consumption of wood based products by the U.S. cabinet industry and evaluate current management issues affecting the cabinet industry. Group 1 companies (>$20 million in sales) were contacted and sent a fax questionnaire. A random sample of 1034 Group 2 companies (<$20 million in sales and >10 employees) were sent a mail questionnaire. A total of 19 usable questionnaires were received from Group 1 companies and 217 usable questionnaires were received from Group 2 companies. Group 1 respondents averaged 1,108 employees and $125.81 million in sales. Group 2 respondents averaged 27 employees and $2.31 million in sales. A shortened questionnaire (questionnaire 2, one page) was sent to half of the Group 2 sample frame resulting in twice the response rate as that of the long questionnaire (questionnaire 1, three pages). Results indicated that the cabinet industry used an estimated 484 million board feet of hardwood lumber. Nearly 95% of the hardwood lumber purchases were grade 1 common or better. The most common used species were red oak (44%) and hard maple (24%). An estimated 58 million board feet of components and 68,344 doors were also purchased by cabinet manufacturers in 1999. Softwood lumber use was estimated at 25 million board feet, consisting primarily of white (49%) and southern yellow (36%) pine. The most commonly used panel products were particleboard and hardwood plywood, at an estimated 1,044 million square feet (1/2 inch basis) and 279 (3/8 inch basis) million square feet respectively. Other panel products used by the industry were medium density fiberboard, hardboard, and softwood plywood. Approximately 156 (any thickness) million square feet of veneer was used. Lumber purchases were primarily direct from sawmills (66%) for Group 1 companies and from wholesalers/distributors (53%) for Group 2 companies. Panel product purchases followed the same trend with Group 1 companies buying primarily direct from manufacturers (44%) and the majority of Group 2 purchases coming from wholesalers/distributors (84%). Group 1 companies sold their products through factory sales people (54%) and to home improvement/building supply centers (37%). Group 2 companies sold their products through factory sales people (77%) and to builders and remodelers (62%). The largest proportion of cabinet types sold by both Groups 1 and 2 were face frame kitchen cabinets (74% and 38% respectively). Companies from both groups reported producing certified (green) products. The majority of companies indicated they purchased some parts from outside sources. Companies from both groups reported considering alternative materials to substitute for wood. Products that were mentioned include strawboard, urban waste MDF, and plastic mouldings. Concerns rated highest by cabinet companies were finding qualified employees, increasing raw material prices, keeping qualified employees, and wood quality. / Master of Science

Background: Despite policy and practice guidelines highlighting the need to identify and treat substance use early and concurrently with other mental health symptoms, efforts remain uncoordinated and guidelines lack specificity. Limited evidence characterizing patterns and correlates of co-occurring substance use and mental health symptoms hinders our ability to effectively address these concerns early during adolescence. This dissertation deepens our understanding of the patterns and correlates of co-occurring substance use and mental health symptoms among adolescents, how to collect relevant data in inpatient settings, and how to rigorously analyze and report findings. Methods: The first paper is a systematic review of 70 cluster-based studies examining patterns of multiple substance use among adolescents. The second examines patterns and correlates of co-occurring substance use and mental health symptoms through multilevel latent profile analysis and multilevel multinomial regression using a large, representative sample of secondary students and schools across Ontario. The third paper is a pilot study examining the feasibility, acceptability, and importance of standardized assessments of substance use and mental health symptoms in an adolescent psychiatric inpatient unit. Results: The substantive findings of this work include: 1) multiple substance use is common; 2) co-occurrence of substance use and mental health symptoms is common, though not universal; 3) substance use may be related to mental health symptom severity, comorbidity, and hospital service use; 4) school climate, belonging, and safety represent important targets for school-based interventions; and 5) adolescent psychiatric inpatient units may represent important contexts for standardized assessments, though more professional training and standardization in assessments and interventions are needed. Methodological recommendations are also presented to improve the collection, analysis, and reporting of similar work in the field. Conclusions: Collectively, this dissertation provides novel, timely, and actionable insight into adolescent substance use patterns, correlates, and potential targets for assessment and intervention efforts. / Dissertation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / This dissertation deepens our understanding of the patterns of co-occurring substance use and mental health concerns among adolescents. First, a review of all existing studies that explore patterns of multiple substance use among adolescents was conducted. Second, patterns of substance use and mental health symptoms were identified in secondary students and schools across Ontario. Third, the feasibility of assessing substance use and mental health symptoms using standardized approaches on an inpatient adolescent psychiatric unit was evaluated. Overall, this work suggests that substance use and mental health concerns commonly co-occur, and that schools and inpatient psychiatric units are important settings for prevention, assessment, and intervention. This work provides actionable next steps to inform assessment, prevention, and intervention efforts designed to address co-occurring substance use and mental health concerns among adolescents.

Previous studies suggest that religious individuals are more likely than non-religious individuals to perceive their pornography use as problematic. For our six-month longitudinal study, we recruited a sample of adults from Turkprime.com. We hypothesized that more religious individuals who use pornography at baseline would report higher self-perceived problematic pornography use at three months, which would be associated with higher depression at six months. We constructed and validated our own measure of self-perceived problematic pornography use, which included two factors: excessive pornography use and compulsive pornography use. We ran two separate structural equation models, one with excessive use at three months and the other with compulsive use at three months. Contrary to our hypothesis, religiosity was not related to self-perceived problematic pornography use in any of the models. Both models were moderated by biological sex. For men, religiosity at baseline was associated with increased pornography use at six months. For both men and women, excessive pornography use at three months was associated with increased depression at six months. For men, depression at baseline was associated with self-perceived problematic pornography use at three months. For women, higher self-perceived problematic pornography use at three months predicted lower frequency of pornography use and higher depression at six months. Women’s pornography use was more stable over time than men’s. Our findings are discussed in light of theories of depression, religious incongruence, and sexual scripts.

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<p> This thesis examines how Ernest Buckler's literary style, particularly in his presentation of the theme of isolation and his characterizations, is detennined by his intentional use of irony. By examining all of Buckler's work, including both unpublished and often neglected writings, this thesis offers critical analysis of the author's entire literary career. Unlike other critical discussions which have concentrated narrowly on the role of the artist figure and recognize irony only in limited areas, my criticism focusses on the pervasive ironies which effect the content of Buckler's fiction. I discuss irony as a structural device which unifies the Buckler canon and demonstrates the author's creative development. Through detailed analysis of the works, I offer internal evidence for my theory, and from The Buckler Collection I offer external evidence about Buckler's intentions and beliefs concerning irony. My thesis argues that critical evaluations of Buckler's writing must consider how his conscious use of irony determines our interpretation and understanding of his work.</p> <p> Irony as used in this study involves the recognition of incongruities, the contrast between appearance and reality. It manifests itself in Buckler's perspective of irony, his vision of the world as characterized by irreconcilable tensions and contradictions that are tolerated by mankind only through htmlan relationships. The role of irony in his fiction is to elucidate this attitude as it affects his themes, characterizations, plot structures and writing techniques. When applied to his beliefs and perceptions, the term irony no longer identifies only the literary genre or stylistic devices of fiction, but refers to the kinds of themes and subject matter explored by Buckler. Therefore, this thesis explains how Buckler emphasizes in his work the recognition of incongruities and uses irony to thematically structure his work. </p> <p> According to Buckler, one tragedy of modern society is alienation caused by the contradiction between man's idealized expectations and his disillusioning experiences. Buckler's perspective of irony concentrates on this discrepancy which isolates man from his community and forces him into absolute isolation, Buckler's tenn for bitter loneliness and irreversible alienation. This bleak process can only be prevented by each man acknowledging the presence of local ironies, accepting them as part of the universal human condition and reaching out to share that awareness with other men equally doomed and troubled by absurdities and contradictions. Together, through love and honest human relationships, they will face life's disturbing inconsistencies and cruel disappointments. As well, they will reject the despair of nihilism when they find truth and meaning in such human relationships. </p> <p> In this thesis I examine how Buckler expresses his perspective of irony in the fonn and content of his fiction, but I concentrate on his subject matter, themes and characterizations. The chapter discussions explain how Buckler's intentional use of irony affects his central theme of isolation. Chapter One discusses the short stories in The Rebellion of Young David and Other Stories (1975) as well as other pieces of short fiction, published and unpublished from The Buckler Collection. These selections illustrate how tensions in family relationships cause misunderstandings and feelings of rejection until a demonstration of family loyalty expressing love reunites family members. We see Buckler creating irony by juxtaposing opposites, contrasting different narrative voices, shifting time frames and manipulating images and symbols. All of these techniques develop over the period of Buckler's career.</p> <p> Chapter Two discusses The Mountain and The Valley (1952) in relation to the central theme of isolation, the artist as an ironic figure, the disintegration of the Canaan family and the conflict between various perceptions of reality. I focus on the power of language, the creative process and metaphor and the ultimate meaning of David's death. My criticism explores the entire scope of Buckler's handling of irony as it relates to David's character and to Buckler's own commentaries and plans.</p> <p>Chapter Three examines irony as Buckler's challenge to nihilism in The Cruelest month (1963), the use of verbal irony, the highly intellectual style of writing, the confirmation of love as the only solution to the modern condition and the treatment of the ironic artist figure in the characters of Paul Creed and Morse Halliday.</p> <p> Chapter Four includes a discussion of Ox Bells and Fireflies (1968), a nostalgic, poetic memoir of the way it was. This work contrasts the ideal past with the disillusioning present to illustrate how man lives in a sterile, alienating environment. The presence of unintentional irony involving the conflicting perceptions of the reader and Buckler weaken the overall effectiveness of the work. In Nova Scotia: Window on the Sea (1973), Buckler jlLxtaposes contrasting ways of life, values and characterizations to emphasize how his Nova Scotian home embodies ironic contrasts. The isolation that Buckler describes is, for the most part, associatc<l with geography and physical solitude rather than a sense of alienation. Whirligig (1977) demonstrates how irony can evolve into satire and parody while continuing to contrast appearances with reality. Isolation occurs as a mild form of loneliness and alienation, an inescapable part of modern society made tolerable by man's sense of humour and absurd comedy.</p> <p>As a modern writer of ironic literature, Buckler focusses on the complex ironies of human existence and the tragedy of alienation. His ironic perspective views man as fated in his struggle to survive in an indifferent universe where the phenomenal world thwarts his aspirations toward the ideal and his longing for perfection. But Buckler believes that human relationships give ultimate meaning to life and tritunph over the ironies and isolation suffered by mankind. Although often imperfect and subject to the perversities present in the modeni world, love remains man's only hope. While recognizing the ironies inherent in life, Buckler affirms in his fiction the significance of life itself, the human family and human love. This thesis examines the Buckler canon in the light of his philosophy and demonstrates that Buckler writes from an ironic perspective which modulates the reader's understanding of his work.</p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)