Thesis (Ph. D.)--Purdue University, 2004. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 320-354).

Sprawling low density housing and retail developments characterize the growth patterns of many communities nationally. These patterns of development have been associated with impairments in ecosystem services that are critical to the functioning of social and natural systems. In response to the negative implications of these patterns, watershed initiatives are taking place across the U.S. These initiatives are characterized by participatory decision making processes involving diverse community interest groups. Studies have indicated that leadership and social capital contribute to the success of these initiatives. A qualitative assessment of community capacity for sustainable watershed management was conducted in two Lower Kaskaskia River watersheds. The study communities of Belleville and O'Fallon, Illinois are located in the eastern metropolitan region of St. Louis, MO. The primary concerns of community managers and planners are related to managing growth and its negative impacts on economic, social, and natural capitals. Six research questions drove this capacity assessment: (1) How do diverse community managers and residents define community health, (2) What role does the natural environment play in perceptions of community health, (3) What are the perceived effects of urbanization on the study communities, (4) What are community stakeholders' beliefs about the level of environmental protection within their communities, (5) What are stakeholders' perceptions of their communities' ability to solve problems and (6) What are critical indicators of community capacity to engage in sustainable watershed management. Study findings suggest that healthy natural environments are an essential element of healthy communities. Indicators of community capacity for watershed management were identified by participants. This list of indicators can be used as a tool by residents that have identified a need for a watershed initiative in their community. Key findings suggest that developing a sustainable vision, networking between groups, and leadership play important roles in the successful implementation of community based watershed initiatives.

abstract: There has been a tremendous amount of innovation in policing over the last 40 years, from community and problem-oriented policing to hot spots and intelligence-led policing. Many of these innovations have been subjected to empirical testing, with mixed results on effectiveness. The latest innovation in policing is the Bureau of Justice Assistance's Smart Policing Initiative (2009). Created in 2009, the SPI provides funding to law enforcement agencies to develop and test evidence-based practices to address crime and disorder. Researchers have not yet tested the impact of the SPI on the funded agencies, particularly with regard to core principles of the Initiative. The most notable of these is the collaboration between law enforcement agencies and their research partners. The current study surveyed SPI agencies and their research partners on key aspects of their Initiative. The current study uses mean score comparisons and qualitative responses to evaluate this partnership to determine the extent of its value and effect. It also seeks to determine the areas of police agency crime analysis and research units that are most in need of enhancement. Findings indicate that the research partners are actively involved in a range of aspects involved in problem solving under the Smart Policing Initiative, and that they have positively influenced police agencies' research and crime analysis functions, and to a lesser extent, have positively impacted police agencies' tactical operations. Additionally, personnel, technology, and training were found to be the main areas of the crime analysis and research units that still need to be enhanced. The thesis concludes with a discussion of the implications of these findings for police policy and practice. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Criminology and Criminal Justice 2013

abstract: The presence of drug cartels within Mexico impacts U.S. national security, foreign policy, U.S. crime rates, and public health policy. Due to the direct and indirect effects that the cartels have on the United States, this paper examines the Mérida Initiative, the current U.S. anti-cartel policy, and makes several recommendations for future policy directions. Using official documents as well as current academic research, this paper examines the outcomes of past comparable policies that the United States has implemented in Colombia and Afghanistan to address the issue of drug trafficking. The paper then builds on the present successes of the Mérida Initiative by recommending several policies in the areas of international cooperation, agricultural development, Mexican targeting and enforcement, and U.S. law enforcement. This paper recommends that information sharing between countries should be increased to reduce the likelihood that pressure place on cartels will cause displacement; crop eradication cease and alternative crop development be implemented to reduce illicit crop growth; the joint Mexican-U.S. enforcement focus should move from high-value targets to more highly connected members; the United States should increase vetting for gun purchases to help keep guns out of the hands of cartel members; and domestic drug policies should shift toward treatment and demand-focused policies. By implementing the recommended policies, this paper suggests that the influence of cartels within Mexico as well as the United States may be reduced. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Criminology and Criminal Justice 2014

Submitted by João Arthur Martins (joao.arthur@ufpe.br) on 2015-03-05T17:55:38Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação. José Alexander Benavides Tutillo.pdf: 4818067 bytes, checksum: e5eed884c5fbc92a89ba7363566787db (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-05T17:55:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação. José Alexander Benavides Tutillo.pdf: 4818067 bytes, checksum: e5eed884c5fbc92a89ba7363566787db (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-04-02 / O presente trabalho tem como objetivo analisar os indicadores de sustentabilidade da Global Reporting Initiative nas empresas do setor de lavanderia de jeans na cidade de Toritama a fim de que as informações obtidas possam auxiliar outras empresas do setor a descobrir oportunidades de Desenvolvimento Sustentável e transformá-las em vantagem competitiva. Foi realizado um levantamento bibliográfico apresentando a evolução da Responsabilidade Social Corporativa e Sustentabilidade assim como as normas, certificações e iniciativas voluntárias no contexto mundial e brasileiro que estão ligadas a estes conceitos. Em seguida, foi apresentada a estrutura da Global Reporting Initiative assim como as características do setor de estudo. Posteriormente, a partir dos dados coletados com um questionário tomando como referência o número mínimo de indicadores GRI para publicação de relatórios de sustentabilidade em treze empresas que participaram da pesquisa, foram identificadas as principais limitações que as empresas entrevistadas enfrentam na implementação de estratégias sustentáveis, bem como os resultados que as mesmas esperam ao implantar estas estratégias. Observou-se também que, embora exista desconhecimento do termo sustentabilidade, algumas práticas relativas a desenvolvimento sustentável têm sido adotadas por várias organizações, como por exemplo, o controle de materiais usados no processo produtivo, de emissões atmosféricas produzidas pelas operações e controle de descarte de água dos processos de lavanderia e tinturaria, assim como o controle de investimentos e gastos em proteção ambiental.

Magister Public Health - MPH / Breastfeeding impacts on the health of both the mother and infant and has been noted as being influenced by physiological, physical, socio-economic and environmental factors. The undisputed benefit of exclusive breastfeeding for both the mother and child has led to the global prioritisation of the promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding with the adoption of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) strategy. Baby Friendly Hospital (BFH) status is awarded to a maternity unit when they are found to be complying with set criteria Ten Steps to successful Breastfeeding. South Africa has implemented a re-evaluation system for retention of accreditation status, by reassessing accredited facilities every three years. The respective provinces are tasked with monitoring the implementation of BFHI in their public health facilities. Internal monitoring reports, completed by the Western Cape Provincial Department of Health, reflect erosion of key steps between national reassessments. Aim: To describe the experiences, challenges and successes of BFHI implementation in the BFH accredited facilities in the Cape Town geographical health district. Methodology: An explorative qualitative study was conducted. One key informant interview, ten in-depth interviews with champions for BFHI in the maternity facilities and two focus group discussions with frontline staff working at these facilities were used to collect data. The data was analysed using thematic content analysis to identify the main themes related to the successes and challenges experienced with the maintenance of the required practices related to BFHI accreditation. Results: Participants reported that the implementation of the BFHI impacted positively on the health of both mothers and infants. Fewer children were being admitted for common childhood illnesses such as diarrhoea subsequent  to BFHI implementation. Mothers were recovering more quickly after delivery and less complications related to delivery, such as postpartum bleeding, were observed after the implementation of BFHI. BFHI implementation had a positive impact on the attitudes of maternity staff to breastfeeding promotion, protection and support. Subsequent to being awarded BFH status, facilities are tasked with maintaining the implemented practices. Challenges to maintaining the practices included lack of implementation of BFHI practices at clinics, lack of support from facility managers and support staff such as counsellors. The internal assessments implemented as supportive monitoring structures are considered by participants to be a demotivating process and concerns were raised about non nursing staff assessing nursing practices. Conclusion: The potential impact of this strategy on infant and maternal health must be realized by the implementers of BFHI, before the strategized aim is achieved. Co-ordination and support by all role players is vital to the success and elimination of challenges experienced with implementation and maintenance of the BFH strategy. / South Africa

This study investigated differences in level of commitment between married and non-married individuals, effects of demographic variables by age, gender, parenting status, and ethnicity, and determines participant's awareness of and participation in the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative (OMI) were investigated. Students from a rural Oklahoma junior college completed the Perceptions of Commitment survey during spring 2004. Responses related to levels of commitment, social exchange theory, expectations, and communication were collected. T-test analysis revealed no differences in level of commitment for any of the variables investigated. Data revealed the majority of participants were unaware of OMI and had never attended a program and do not plan to in the future. Implications of this research may be useful to future investigators who are interested in the Perceptions of Commitment survey and those focusing on marriage education programs to meet the needs of targeted audiences.

The economic decline of many rural American towns in recent decades has garnered much attention and research. Most of this research, however, has taken a prescriptive approach to policy and has focused mainly on making recommendations for how to “fix” rural America. No research has systematically looked at what declining rural American areas are already doing to support their local economies and attempt to reverse economic decline. This study explores 55 towns and counties, 50 through their planning documents and five through a combination of planning documents and in-depth informational interviews, to determine how local governments are responding to economic decline. This analysis reveals that there is a very wide variety in both types of response and the level of response. While some areas are doing very little to address economic decline, other areas are implementing innovative and intensive approaches to build more robust and diversified economies. Overall, the implication of this research is that both scholars and policymakers should be careful to understand local contexts before making prescriptive policy approaches.

L'enjeu de la normalisation du reporting RSE occupe une place croissante dans la communication des entreprises à l'égard de leurs parties prenantes. La norme GRI constitue, à l'heure actuelle, le référentiel de reporting RSE le plus utilisé à l'échelle internationale pour la rédaction des rapports RSE. Le corpus G3C constitué est représentatif du genre discursif « rapport RSE normalisé selon le référentiel GRI ». Ainsi, à partir de la théorie des réseaux collocationnels de Williams (1998) et de l'outil d'analyse lexicale Sketchengine, nous procédons à une analyse collocationnelle de G3C afin de détecter les régularités et les patrons prototypiques qui caractérisent les variables linguistiques, géographiques et sectorielles du corpus analysé. / CSR reporting standardisation has become an increasing issue for companies when they address their stakeholders. GRI standards are, at the moment, the most widely-used standards for CSR reporting. G3C corpus has been built to be representative of the genre " GRI standardised CSR reports ". The adopted methodology is based upon the collocational network theory of Williams (1998) and the lexical analysis tool Sketchengine of Kilgariff (2004). The study aims at detecting the most significant regularities and prototypical patterns which characterize the linguistic, geographical and sector-specific dimensions of the corpus.

This master thesis deals with policies of United States of America in combat against Mexican drug cartels, which are responsible for overwhelming majority of drugs flowing into USA. Although huge demand for drugs by U.S. citizens is crucial aspect in a long-term, this work put emphasis on immediate solutions, which would weaken the general position of cartels and therefore limit the flow of drugs into the country. Drug cartels are perceived as transnational criminal organizations a research aims to find out whether USA acknowledge this fact and whether they adapt their policies. The subjects of this research are two documents - cooperation with Mexico under the Mérida Initiative and U.S. Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime. Threats of organized crime and goals in fight against it presented in these two documents serve as reference points and basis for evaluation of U.S. actions.