Thesis (D. Min.)--Harding University Graduate School of Religion, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 153-159).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Harding University Graduate School of Religion, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 153-159).

Nutrient enrichment, which can be detrimental to the health of aquatic systems, is one of the leading causes of impairment of our Nations? waters. Development and initial calibration of a hydrologic, hydrodynamic, and water quality model of dissolved oxygen and nutrient concentration for the St. Louis Bay watershed in coastal Mississippi is documented herein. The model was developed using the USEPA BASINS 3.0 analysis system and WinHSPF, a comprehensive watershed loading and transport modeling software. The resulting model simulates significant watershed and instream physical, chemical and biological processes including rainfall runoff and associated water quality from a variety of land use categories. Extensive data describing the study area, land use practices, hydrology and water quality are presented, analyzed and discussed relative to model development and adequacy to support future modeling projects. Integration of this data into a valuable water quality assessment model and preliminary model calibration is also presented.

St.Louis model 於1970年由Andersen與Carlson提出，該模型由八條方程式構成。其中四條估計式分別為：總支出方程式(Andersen-Jordan equation)、物價方程式、長期利率方程式、及失業方程式；其他四條為定義式。該模型以一簡單縮減式(reduced-form)估計財政政策與貨幣政策對名目產出的影響，透過係數的比較、估計係數t值的大小、以及落後期結構的差異，發現貨幣政策較財政政策有較大、較快、較易預測的效果。在原始的St. Louis model中，並未考慮共整合(cointegration) 與誤差調整模型(error-correction model)的概念，變數間若能通過共整合檢定則隱含存在一長期均衡關係。過去St. Louis model採用backward-looking的方式，以前期物價變動來估計本期的物價成長率；而貨幣政策變數僅以準備貨幣、M2成長率直接對產出估計，並未考慮貨幣政策回饋法則。在財政政策變數的選擇上，本文嘗試以不同潛在產出估計法計算充分就業下的政府支出；貨幣政策變數方面，仍選擇準備貨幣作為政策工具，並以貨幣數量回饋法則的方式內生化於模型中。 原始的St. Louis model以最小平方法(ordinary least square，OLS)對個別方程式估計，為避免對單一方程式估計而忽略其他變數間的交互影響，本文將三條估計式視為一整個系統(system)，對模型作完全資訊最大概似法(full information maximum likelihood, FIML)聯立估計，藉此比較單一方程式與模型聯立估計的結果，以判定模型是否產生誤置。總體經濟計量模型除了說明總體經濟現象外，尚能透過模擬分析得出各種政策效果。本文在估計出實證結果後，將配合Gauss-Seidel方法逐步收斂求解，比較開放性經濟下財政政策與貨幣政策的相對有效性。 無論是在共整合分析或是完全資訊最大概似估計法下，利用台灣資料估計皆顯示貨幣政策與經濟活動關係密切，貨幣政策確實較財政政策在穩定經濟過程中扮演重要角色，結果均支持St. Louis model的結論；而經由Gauss-Seidel收斂法求解發現，靜態模擬較動態模擬準確。主要是因為靜態模擬是以前期的實際值代入，故預測誤差較小；而聯立模型的模擬誤差大於單一方程式的模擬誤差是因前者包括聯立估計時產生的結構誤差，以及單一方程式本身的個別誤差。除了物價方程式的Theil係數偏高外，經濟成長率與準備貨幣成長率的趨勢皆能準確被預測。 本研究同時驗證了Mundell- Flemming之命題，在國際資本不完全移動的浮動匯率制度下，貨幣政策較財政政策有效影響國民所得。由於本文容許中央銀行在外匯市場干預匯率，因此是在管理式浮動匯率制度下考慮政策有效性；且依台灣現況，國際資本並未全部管制，亦未完全開放自由移動，因此財政政策對國民所得仍有正面的影響效果。

歷經二次大戰洗禮後，日本迅速重建，之後歷經幾次景氣擴張，而躍升為經濟大國，在1986~1991年更是達到高峰。然而，日本政府欲以調升利率緩和經濟過熱，日本金融體系的呆帳問題漸漸浮現，形成多重性景氣衰退，長期以來奉行凱因斯思想的日本政府，在經濟泡沫化後仍如同以往利用財政或貨幣政策來擴張景氣，但整個1990年代似未使日本經濟真正地回到正常軌道，被稱為「失去的十年」。因此本文介紹1990年代以來日本各項財政政策之實施背景、目的、措施與特色、結果，並佐以實證文獻回顧探討財政政策的有效性，發現大多數學者認為財政政策在短期確實發揮功能，但長期效果則不足。 本文實證是以Andersen and Carlson (1970) 建立之St. Louis Model為基礎，驗證日本1990年代以來財政政策有效性。原始的St. Louis equation僅是一條縮減式 (reduced form)，透過係數大小比較，發現貨幣政策比財政政策有效且快速。本文除檢驗財政政策與貨幣政策的相對有效性外，亦同時加入貿易政策。方法上，財政政策採政府總支出，貨幣政策採M2+CDs，貿易政策採出口為解釋變數，對各變數取一階差分、選取最適落後期，再以最小平方法進行迴歸。 本文實證結果發現，無論是當期效果或長期效果，財政政策有效性最佳，貿易政策次之，貨幣政策效果最小。因此，財政政策似是日本在1990年代以來擴張景氣時最有力的工具。

Master of Regional and Community Planning / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / Huston Gibson / In many urban redevelopment discussions, people often refer to a catalyst as the impetus for redevelopment. Unfortunately, no standard definition of an urban redevelopment catalyst exists, so liberal use of the term catalyst persists. As distinguished in Dr. Timothy Chapin’s dissertation, Urban Revitalization Tools: Assessing the Impacts of Sports Stadia at the Microarea Level, the impacts of sports stadia (widely considered catalysts) are often overstated. In order to have valuable arguments over the impacts of presupposed catalytic activities, we need to understand the defining characteristics of an urban redevelopment catalyst and utilize a consistent process for examining them. This study identifies these characteristics and develops a methodology from which others may study catalysts. Included in the study are both narrative and tangible evidence from which researchers may decipher catalytic characteristics and events. In order to explore this analytic method, a case study was necessary. The revitalization of Washington Avenue (in downtown St. Louis, Missouri) provided an excellent opportunity to implement and test the process. Washington Avenue went from decrepit in the early 1980s to receiving the honor of being a Great Street by the American Planning Association in 2011. By delving into the developmental history of Washington Avenue, the process verified urban redevelopment catalytic characteristics, the methodology and the presence of small-scale urban redevelopment catalysts. From these findings, (coupled with a preexisting, dominant discussion focused large-scale catalysts) we see the value of small, organic development. The study prompts further exploration of urban redevelopment catalysts, especially in regards to smaller catalysts. It also suggests a new line of thinking for urban redevelopment dynamics, thus guiding future research to focus on understanding the processes of urban redevelopment.

Why would a relatively normal eighteen year-old boy from New Orleans decide to dedicate his life to God as a Jesuit priest at the tail-end of the twentieth century? What obstacles would he meet along the way? What would sustain him in religious life? Why would he leave after seven years? Can one be sexually and emotionally healthy as a celibate? Is celibacy different for homosexuals than it is for heterosexuals? What is essential in the spiritual life?

This thesis provides a theoretical framework for evaluating the causes of vacant land in shrinking cities. The focus of this thesis was New Orleans and St. Louis; these two cities were selected as the case studies because they are roughly of similar age, possess a common cultural and economic heritage, and have a geographic footprint which encompasses different environmental conditions. This thesis evaluated factors that contribute to patterns of land vacancy within these two cities. Factors included in this evaluation include employment and other economic and cultural opportunities, environmental and ecological conditions, social dynamics and conditions, governmental management decisions, and 'quality of life' stressors, such as proximity to major infrastructure and industrial development. The theoretical framework described in this thesis is intended to apply to other shrinking cities beyond the case studies. A geographic information system database using historical maps and population census data were created for each city and utilized to examine temporal patterns in the relationship between land vacancy and a variety of environmental, economic, and social factors. Maps from the time of the founding of each city were geo-referenced to create a depiction of the ecological conditions prior to European settlement at the sites of New Orleans in 1718 and St. Louis in 1764, respectively. Time-series data gathered from the United States population censuses were utilized to document spatial change of the two cities as they evolved. Homo sapiens like other species compete for habitat. Access to high quality habitat within the urban ecosystem is determined by contestation between individuals and social groups, through market mechanisms and through management decisions, both utilitarian and ideological. Corruption and violence may also be factors. Individual agency is a factor in this contestation but social and cultural structures can also work to limit individual choices, particularly for minorities and low income residents, and relegate many residents to suboptimum or marginal habitat. A data analysis of both New Orleans and St. Louis showed that the quantity and location of vacant land is primarily influenced by proximity to opportunities and by proximity to major risks which impact the quality of Homo sapiens habitat. The first of these is proximity to opportunities such as employment, education, and cultural resources. The second is the presence of natural hazards, such as flooding and geological hazards, as revealed by the analysis of the historical ecology of the city. The third is the impact of local government management decisions and social planning which has spatial implications, including racially-based zoning, racial covenants, redlining, and isolation from public services and facilities such as the segregation of public schools. These decisions are often the reflection of ideology and power relationships. A fourth driver of land vacancy is proximity to risks, notably industrial lands, but also the intrusion of major infrastructure projects such as the development of the railyards and rail corridor of St. Louis, the construction of the Industrial Canal in New Orleans, and the construction of Interstate highways through both cities. In some circumstances, such drivers that include the unintended consequences of utilitarian decisions. The fifth driver include socio-economic factors and the neighborhood effects of crime, and poor education. These five drivers act in different proportions in each city to influence land values which, in turn, drive levels of vacancy. This comparative investigation revealed that the impact of geophysical factors on land vacancy varies greatly between New Orleans and St. Louis. While much of New Orleans lies below sea level and is often subject to flooding and hurricanes, little of the vacant lands of St. Louis are impacted by geophysical factors. In contrast, management decisions and social planning have contributed significantly to the concentration of poverty and, in turn, land vacancy in both cities. While some of these management decisions are utilitarian in nature and intended to provide the greatest benefits for the most number of people, others are ideologically driven or reflect power relationships and in the case of both New Orleans and St. Louis, racism. Proximity to risks, such as active railroad tracks, major highways, and industrial development, also has a strong relationship to land vacancy in both cities. Land vacancy also has a strong spatial relationship with areas of low income, poor education, and crime and neighborhood effects. While an understanding of environmental history can provide a useful guide to vacant land policy, efforts to address the challenge of vacant lands must consider not only the symptoms but the underlying causes of vacancy, particularly economic and social factors. This thesis is addressed to planners, architects, urban designers, landscape architects, and elected and appointed government officials who work to address the challenges of shrinking cities. Though this thesis examined the causes of vacant land in two shrinking cities, future research should examine the application of the theoretical framework presented here to cities experiencing growth as well.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 339-351).

Thesis (Dr. P.H.)--University of Texas School of Public Health, 2008. Thesis (Dr. P.H.)--University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, 2008. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-02, Section: B, page: 0973. Adviser: Kristy O. Murray. Includes bibliographical references.