Thesis (D. Min.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 2001. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 263-267).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2003. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 138-141).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2007. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 171-177).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2003. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 138-141).

Thesis (D.W.S.)--Institute for Worship Studies, 2004. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 122-126).

Studies have shown that many low-income and disadvantaged Americans have a poor diet quality, which increases obesity and chronic disease risk. According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, education and income levels of Springfield residents are well below state averages, and racial diversity in Springfield has increased significantly over the past few decades. Springfield’s demographics increase the risk of health disparities in the community, and higher rates of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity are seen in Springfield. To promote healthy eating behaviors among Springfield residents, Mason Square Health Task Force (MSHTF), a Live Well Springfield (LWS) partner, created a 6-session nutrition curriculum, entitled The MENU Program. The goal was to increase overall health awareness and healthy eating behaviors among residents in communities that are being targeted by the LWS initiative. Topics of the The MENU Program included MyPlate guidelines and label reading, budget shopping and cooking, healthy restaurant choices, diet and chronic disease, and food justice. The objective of this study was to evaluate The MENU Program to assess its strengths, weaknesses, and effectiveness using both quantitative and qualitative data from surveys, process evaluation, and facilitator observations. There were two phases of this study: Phase 1 was the evaluation of the pilot program delivered to a group of senior women recruited through the Dunbar YMCA; Phase 2 evaluated the second offering of the curriculum to Mason Square residents enrolled in the Task Force Fit Challenge. All participants responded positively to The MENU Program sessions and positive changes were seen in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors after both Phases. Participant-perceived useful material included handouts, group discussions, and hands-on activities. Observational data supports the usefulness of group discussion over lecture-based teaching methods. This study supports the use of The MENU Program as an effective community education program for Springfield, MA. It has the potential to positively influence residents’ diet quality and nutrition-related behaviors through improved nutrition knowledge and attitudes.

This thesis explores the relationship between urban tree canopy and physical health measures between different Springfield, Massachusetts neighborhoods. The study hypothesis was that there would be a correlation between urban tree canopy and human health. Statistical analysis was used to examine the correlation between available health data and urban trees. The existing neighborhood health data that was available comprised of asthma rate, infant mortality, and low birth weight. It also examined other data such as median household income, demographic percentages, home ownership, and green space. The research questions guiding this study were: Are there any correlations between urban trees canopy and the asthma rates, infant mortality rates, and low birth weight in Springfield neighborhoods? Do local residents have equal access to resources such as urban tree canopy and green space? Previous research reviewed in the literature shows that urban tree canopy provides social, environmental, physical benefits to their surroundings and to the residents of urban neighborhoods, such as those in Springfield. The literature review also discussed some challenges with regard to unequal access to urban trees in other cities, such as Boston that show environmental justice issue may be an influence. The current study used data on health, demographic, and urban tree canopy data that was primarily collected by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, the US Forest Service and ReGreen Springfield. The major findings showed correlations between urban tree canopy and median household income, low birth weight, and demographics percentages. Those correlations indicated that there are signs of environmental justice issues in the City of Springfield. This correlation results verifies prior that was reviewed in the literature. One recommendation to offset the issues of environmental justice would be to invest in organization such as ReGreen Springfield and other organizations that promote planting trees by neighborhood groups.

No description available.

Bulk rock strength is greatly dependent on fracture density, so that reductions in rock strength associated with faulting and fracturing should be reflected by reduced shear coupling and hence S-wave velocity. This study is carried out along the Canterbury rangefront and in Otago. Both lie within the broader plate boundary deformation zone in the South Island of New Zealand. Therefore built structures are often, , located in areas where there are undetected or poorly defined faults with associated rock strength reduction. Where structures are sited near to, or across, such faults or fault-zones, they may sustain both shaking and ground deformation damage during an earthquake. Within this zone, management of seismic hazards needs to be based on accurate identification of the potential fault damage zone including the likely width of off-plane deformation. Lateral S-wave velocity variability provides one method of imaging and locating damage zones and off-plane deformation. This research demonstrates the utility of Multi-Channel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) to aid land-use planning in such fault-prone settings. Fundamentally, MASW uses surface wave dispersive characteristics to model a near surface profile of S-wave velocity variability as a proxy for bulk rock strength. The technique can aid fault-zone planning not only by locating and defining the extent of fault-zones, but also by defining within-zone variability that is readily correlated with measurable rock properties applicable to both foundation design and the distribution of surface deformation. The calibration sites presented here have well defined field relationships and known fault-zone exposure close to potential MASW survey sites. They were selected to represent a range of progressively softer lithologies from intact and fractured Torlesse Group basement hard rock (Dalethorpe) through softer Tertiary cover sediments (Boby’s Creek) and Quaternary gravels. This facilitated initial calibration of fracture intensity at a high-velocity-contrast site followed by exploration of the limits of shear zone resolution at lower velocity contrasts. Site models were constructed in AutoCAD in order to demonstrate spatial correlations between S-wave velocity and fault zone features. Site geology was incorporated in the models, along with geomorphology, river profiles, scanline locations and crosshole velocity measurement locations. Spatial data were recorded using a total-station survey. The interpreted MASW survey results are presented as two dimensional snapshot cross-sections of the three dimensional calibration-site models. These show strong correlations between MASW survey velocities and site geology, geomorphology, fluvial profiles and geotechnical parameters and observations. Correlations are particularly pronounced where high velocity contrasts exist, whilst weaker correlations are demonstrated in softer lithologies. Geomorphic correlations suggest that off-plane deformation can be imaged and interpreted in the presence of suitable topographic survey data. A promising new approach to in situ and laboratory soft-rock material and mass characterisation is also presented using a Ramset nail gun. Geotechnical investigations typically involve outcrop and laboratory scale determination of rock mass and material properties such as fracture density and unconfined compressive strength (UCS). This multi-scale approach is espoused by this study, with geotechnical and S-wave velocity data presented at multiple scales, from survey scale sonic velocity measurements, through outcrop scale scanline and crosshole sonic velocity measurements to laboratory scale property determination and sonic velocity measurements. S-wave velocities invariably increased with decreasing scale. These scaling relationships and strategies for dealing with them are investigated and presented. Finally, the MASW technique is applied to a concealed fault on the Taieri Ridge in Macraes Flat, Central Otago. Here, high velocity Otago Schist is faulted against low velocity sheared Tertiary and Quaternary sediments. This site highlights the structural sensitivity of the technique by apparently constraining the location of the principal fault, which had been ambiguous after standard processing of the seismic reflection data. Processing of the Taieri Ridge dataset has further led to the proposal of a novel surface wave imaging technique termed Swept Frequency Imaging (SFI). This inchoate technique apparently images the detailed structure of the fault-zone, and is in agreement with the conventionally-determined fault location and an existing partial trench. Overall, the results are promising and are expected to be supported by further trenching in the near future.

On May 21, 1998 Kip Kinkel drove to Thurston High School in Springfield, Oregon. Kinkel killed two students and wounded another twenty-two students. He killed his parents the day before. The shootings at Thurston High School came on the heels of a number of prominent school shootings and Kip Kinkel provoked tremendous attention from the media. In an attempt to understand how the media told the story of Kip Kinkel and the shootings at Thurston High School, Ernest G. Bormann's fantasy theme analysis is used as a critical model. To generate insight into the rhetorical visions present in the media coverage articles from three newspapers, The Register-Guard, The Oregonian and The New York Times, are studied. Fantasy types and themes including characters, settings and plotlines are identified and explored. A literature study provides information about the media and how it functions in telling stories, particularly those focused on crime. The critical evaluation of the fantasy themes and types at work the three newspapers provide a number of conclusions. Two rhetorical visions are revealed and discussed. Specific strengths and weaknesses of fantasy theme analysis are also discussed. Finally, a number of future research possibilities are suggested. / Graduation date: 2002