Student Number : 9807515F - MSc Dissertation - School of Computational and Applied Mathematics - Faculty of Science / Statistical and algebraic techniques of subspace tracking were tested for filtering the earth’s response from airborne magnetic field gradients in order to discriminate the relatively small response (dipole) of objects on the earth’s surface, such as UXO. Filtering the data was not very effective with these methods but a subspace was found in the data for the magnitude of the magnetic moment of the dipole. This subspace is easily obtained using the singular value decomposition and can be used for an approximate location, without depth estimation, as well as the relative size of the dipole.

Thesis (M. U. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Also available in print.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Urban Design / Master / Master of Urban Design

This dissertation consists of three chapters on questions in Environmental Economics, addressing policy and health issues in indoor and outdoor environments. In the first chapter, I explores price and quantity policy solutions to externalities that arise from private decisions made over time, focusing on resource extraction as a specific example. In the U.S., mining causes more pollution than any other single industry. I show how tax policy can optimally address a flow externality associated with resource extraction when the policymaker faces asymmetric information in the short run. Chapter 2 investigates whether ordinary exposure to a common indoor air pollutant—Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂)—affects respiratory health. About 40 percent of occupied homes in the U.S. use gas stoves for cooking, which produce NO₂ as a byproduct of combustion (US Census, 2006), and peak concentrations in homes may reach above 900 ppb when a gas stove is used for cooking (Dennekamp et al., 2001). Permanent or fatal lung damage occurs at NO₂ concentrations greater than 1000 ppb (Samet and Utell, 1990). Previous studies find mixed evidence of negative effects from indoor NO₂ (Basu and Samet, 1999), but exposure may be endogenous in these analyses. I address this problem by developing a physical model of indoor NO₂ concentrations that depends on ventilation decisions and housing characteristics and estimate it using data from the third wave of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In every model I consider, I find no significant effects of gas stoves on respiratory outcomes. In the final chapter, I combine data on state and local tobacco control ordinances from Americans for Non-smokers Rights Tobacco US Tobacco Control Laws Database with a sample of 35 million births in the U.S. to examine the impact of smoking bans on birth weight and related outcomes. Using difference-in-difference techniques, I identify the effects of state bans net of local bans, as well as the effects of local bans net of state bans. The results suggest less restrictive bans do more to improve birth outcomes than “100% smokefree” bans do, particularly in urban settings. / text

Hatchling disorientation after emergence is a major factor impacting sea turtle populations. This study utilized data from over 1,200 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Marine Turtle Disorientation Report forms from years 2006 to 2011 to assess changes in the severity and locations of disorientation events and the impact of municipal beach lighting ordinances. While the FWC forms were completed for all sea turtle species observed, this study focused only on loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). A Disorientation Severity Index (DSI) was derived from the number of hatchlings and the direction of their tracks leaving the nests to evaluate the changes in disorientation over six years in Broward County. The FWC forms provide a much larger database for the analysis of hatchling disorientation patterns and trends than can be derived from the more precise, but labor intensive, Hatchling Orientation Index (HOI) survey method of Witherington et al. (1996). This research differs from prior work by focusing on the information provided in the FWC Marine Turtle Disorientation Report forms; using each individual disorientation to assess changes in the severity of hatchling disorientations over time. Prior work has not used the FWC forms for analysis. Significant differences were found for average DSI between years and locations. Overall, DSI decreased significantly from 2006 to 2011 in Hillsboro Beach, Pompano Beach, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Fort Lauderdale, and Hollywood. This might be due to increased compliance with lighting ordinances. In addition, disorientation hotspots were identified and the DSI in these hotspots decreased significantly in central and south Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. Hotspots were visually identified as R-Zone ranges with higher numbers of disorientations than in other ranges (Fig. 6). Artificial beach illumination is very prevalent in Broward County. However, there was no significant relationship between the number of types of lights that were recorded on the FWC forms and DSI. Disorientations seemed to be clustered within hotspots with known lighting issues. Management strategies should use these analyses to reassess loggerhead recovery plans to reduce disorientation hotspots and increase hatchling recruitment.

Land use regulations are typically established as a response to development activity. For effective growth management and habitat preservation, the opposite should occur. This study considers tree preservation ordinances of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area as a means of evaluating development regulation in a metropolitan context. It documents the impact urban cores have on regulations and policies throughout their region, demonstrating that the same urban-rural gradient used to describe physical components of our metropolitan areas also holds true in terms of policy formation. Although sophistication of land use regulation generally dissipates as one moves away from an urban core, native habitat is more pristine at the outer edges. To more effectively protect native habitat, regional preservation measures are recommended.

El presente estudio investigativo se planteó como propósito Identificar los factores que conllevan a complejizar el proceso de ratificación de ordenanzas distritales con contenido tributario en la Provincia de Lima Metropolitana. El enfoque utilizado es de tipo mixto, de igual manera la población objetivo de este análisis estuvo constituida por 42 funcionarios de las municipalidades distritales que intervienen directamente en el proceso de ratificación de ordenanzas de carácter tributario, en la Provincia de Lima, esta misma cantidad de funcionarios conformaron la muestra del estudio. De igual forma, fue usada la técnica de la observación, las encuesta y entrevistas para obtener la información requerida en el estudio. El instrumento de investigación utilizado consistió en el uso de una encuesta, cuyo cuestionario estuvo constituido por 13 preguntas cerradas con varias alternativas de respuestas, asimismo se utilizó para las entrevistas un cuestionario que consta de 4 preguntas. Pudo concluirse que el proceso de ratificación de ordenanzas con contenido tributario en la provincial de Lima, al ser presencial resulta complejo, generando situaciones dilatorias y conllevando a potenciales riesgos de no ratificación en tiempo y forma. Dentro de los factores y/o aspectos que conllevan a complejizar el proceso de ratificación de ordenanzas se identificó los relacionados a: i) La intervención de múltiples actores, ii) Breves plazos en relación a la presentación y absolución de requerimientos, iii) Dificultades en el traslado de los intervinientes para las actuaciones presenciales y iv) Alto volumen de documentación e información a evaluarse. Resulta viable el perfeccionamiento y puesta en práctica de un sistema de interoperabilidad para la simplificación del proceso de ratificación de ordenanzas con contenido tributario en la provincia de Lima Metropolitana, además, para la implementación del aspecto normativo, la Municipalidad Provincial dentro de sus facultades normativas, deberá incorporar en la Ordenanza N° 2085, la obligatoriedad del uso de la plataforma de interoperabilidad para los intervinientes dentro del proceso de ratificación. / The present research study was proposed as a purpose Identify the factors that lead to the complexity of the process of ratification of district ordinances with tax content in the Province of Metropolitan Lima. The approach used is of mixed type, in the same way the target population of the present research work was constituted by 42 officials of the district municipalities that are directly involved in the process of ratification of tax ordinances, within the scope of the Province of Lima, this same number of officials formed the study sample. Similarly, the observation technique, surveys and interviews were used to obtain the information required in the study. The research instrument used consisted of the use of a survey, whose questionnaire consisted of 13 closed questions with several alternative answers, a questionnaire consisting of 4 questions was also used for interviews. It could be concluded that the process of ratification of ordinances with tax content within the province of Lima, being face-to-face is complex, generating delaying situations and leading to potential risks of non-ratification in a timely manner. Among the factors and / or aspects that lead to the complexity of the process of ratification of ordinances, those related to: i) The intervention of multiple actors, ii) Short deadlines in relation to the presentation and absolution of requirements, iii) Difficulties in the transfer of the participants for the face-to-face actions and iv) High volume of documentation and information to be evaluated. It is feasible to develop and implement an interoperability system for the simplification of the process of ratification of ordinances with tax content in the province of Metropolitan Lima, in addition, for the implementation of the regulatory aspect, the Provincial Municipality within its regulatory powers, must incorporate in Ordinance No. 2085, the mandatory use of the interoperability platform for those involved in the ratification process. / Trabajo de investigación

The variety of contradictory approaches to the legal position of ministers of religion in South Africa as are apparent from court findings, theological discourse and church practice are indicative of a lack of clarity, and even confusion, regarding a matter that is of cardinal importance to the orderly functioning of the church as the body of Christ on earth. From this confusion in constitutional law as well as in the church, the topicality - actually, the undeniable necessity - of research into the legal position of ministers of religion has become quite apparent. The topicality of the research is indicated in Chapter 1 by reference to court cases (before and after 1996), theological discourse and church practice. The central research question of the study is formulated as follows: What is the legal position of Reformed ministers in South Africa - a religiously neutral state - considered on the basis of Reformed Church polity and against the background of the church-state context in South Africa after 1996? The central theoretical argument of the study is that the legal position of a minister of religion is a unique kind of relationship (alius generis), a relationship / association / connection / obligation that has to be regulated by the church as a unique community (sui generis) in the world. In South Africa courts should recognise and deem the legal position of Reformed ministers to be an internal church matter that falls outside the sphere of regulation of a religiously neutral state's labour legislation. This recognition should be based on the right of the church to define itself and its offices. In Chapter 2 the current confusion in South Africa regarding the legal position of ministers of religion is investigated further. Various points of view are discussed, for example that ministers are 'employees' of churches (church councils), that a minister's legal position has to be regarded as that of an independent contractor and the point of view that ministers are connected to the church by a unique relationship. The way in which the legal position of ministers of the Gospel is regarded in Germany is discussed in Chapter 3. The focus is inter alia on the meaning of religious freedom, neutrality of the state, constitutional provisions regarding the relationship between the state and the church, and the way in which the legal position of ministers of religion is regulated in the light of the German state-church context. The way in which the Reformed Churches in South Africa define and regulate the legal position of Reformed ministers as an internal church matter is investigated in Chapter 4. In this chapter the focus is on the following aspects: the order of the church that applies to the legal position of ministers in terms of Reformed church polity, as expressed in the church order, the meaning of a minister's relationship with the local church as regards his legal position, and the unique nature of a minister's legal position in terms of the relevant provisions of the church ordinances. The findings, recommendations and summary conclusion of the study are given in Chapter 5. The summary conclusion of the study is that an overall impression of the regulation of ministers' positions by the Reformed Churches in South Africa offers the following perspective: the Lord places the church and its ministers in a unique relationship. This relationship must be regulated by means of the church because the church ordinances inherently make provision for the regulation of this unique relationship. Regarded within the broad context of this study, the state may not exercise control over the legal position of ministers of religion because these ministers fulfil a religiously determined command and task. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Church Polity))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 47-01, page: 0343. Adviser: Stephanie McFall. Includes bibliographical references.

The variety of contradictory approaches to the legal position of ministers of religion in South Africa as are apparent from court findings, theological discourse and church practice are indicative of a lack of clarity, and even confusion, regarding a matter that is of cardinal importance to the orderly functioning of the church as the body of Christ on earth. From this confusion in constitutional law as well as in the church, the topicality - actually, the undeniable necessity - of research into the legal position of ministers of religion has become quite apparent. The topicality of the research is indicated in Chapter 1 by reference to court cases (before and after 1996), theological discourse and church practice. The central research question of the study is formulated as follows: What is the legal position of Reformed ministers in South Africa - a religiously neutral state - considered on the basis of Reformed Church polity and against the background of the church-state context in South Africa after 1996? The central theoretical argument of the study is that the legal position of a minister of religion is a unique kind of relationship (alius generis), a relationship / association / connection / obligation that has to be regulated by the church as a unique community (sui generis) in the world. In South Africa courts should recognise and deem the legal position of Reformed ministers to be an internal church matter that falls outside the sphere of regulation of a religiously neutral state's labour legislation. This recognition should be based on the right of the church to define itself and its offices. In Chapter 2 the current confusion in South Africa regarding the legal position of ministers of religion is investigated further. Various points of view are discussed, for example that ministers are 'employees' of churches (church councils), that a minister's legal position has to be regarded as that of an independent contractor and the point of view that ministers are connected to the church by a unique relationship. The way in which the legal position of ministers of the Gospel is regarded in Germany is discussed in Chapter 3. The focus is inter alia on the meaning of religious freedom, neutrality of the state, constitutional provisions regarding the relationship between the state and the church, and the way in which the legal position of ministers of religion is regulated in the light of the German state-church context. The way in which the Reformed Churches in South Africa define and regulate the legal position of Reformed ministers as an internal church matter is investigated in Chapter 4. In this chapter the focus is on the following aspects: the order of the church that applies to the legal position of ministers in terms of Reformed church polity, as expressed in the church order, the meaning of a minister's relationship with the local church as regards his legal position, and the unique nature of a minister's legal position in terms of the relevant provisions of the church ordinances. The findings, recommendations and summary conclusion of the study are given in Chapter 5. The summary conclusion of the study is that an overall impression of the regulation of ministers' positions by the Reformed Churches in South Africa offers the following perspective: the Lord places the church and its ministers in a unique relationship. This relationship must be regulated by means of the church because the church ordinances inherently make provision for the regulation of this unique relationship. Regarded within the broad context of this study, the state may not exercise control over the legal position of ministers of religion because these ministers fulfil a religiously determined command and task. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Church Polity))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.