This research investigated the association of street network connectivity differences across travel modes with travel behaviour – mode choice, distance traveled and number of trips. To date research on travel behaviour relationships with urban form has not developed empirical evidence on street designs as distinct networks for walking and driving. A street network having greater connectivity and continuity for the pedestrian mode of travel vis-à-vis the vehicular network, like the Fused Grid, will likely encourage more walking. This hypothesis was investigated using a quasi-experimental approach within a rational utility behavioural framework. Local travel behaviour is theorized to be affected by desire to access goods and services (broadly termed, ‘activities’) in the community where people live. Using inferential statistics, the research tested for relationships between measured street patterns and self-reported local travel by King County, WA households. The main variables were ratios (walking : driving) of network connectivity and density, in the vicinity of travel survey households. Demographics and household characteristics, as well as other behaviourally influential urban form factors (residential density, proximity of destinations, etc.), were included in regression models, allowing control for confounding factors. Findings suggest that street networks with connectivity that provides better routing for one mode of transportation over others encourage more travel by the favored mode. The regression model demonstrated that a change from a pure small-block grid to a modified grid (i.e. Fused Grid) can result in an 11.3% increase in odds of a home-based trip being walked. The modified street pattern like a Fused Grid is also associated with a 25.9% increase, over street patterns with equivalent route directness for walking and driving, in the odds a person will meet recommended levels of physical activity. Finally, the Fused Grid’s 10% increase in relative connectivity for pedestrians is associated with a 23% decrease in local vehicle travel distance (VMT), and its improved continuity is associated with increased walking trips and distance. Conclusions: Other factors being equal, residential street networks with either more direct routing for pedestrians or more pedestrian facilities relative to vehicular network are associated with improved odds of walking and reduced odds of driving. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

This thesis investigated the cost-effectiveness of a 12-month supervised aerobic walking program with or without a behavioural intervention and an educational pamphlet, compared to an unsupervised/self-directed educational pamphlet intervention, among individuals with moderate osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Analyses included an economic evaluation to assess the cost effectiveness of the two walking interventions from both the societal and Canadian provincial/territorial health care payer perspectives. A value of information analysis exploring the potential value of future research was also performed. Results revealed that the unsupervised/self-directed intervention was the most cost-effective approach given that it cost the least to implement and participants had higher quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Walking, either supervised in a community setting, or unsupervised in a setting such as the home, may be a favourable non-pharmacological option for the management of OA of the knee. The thesis concludes with a policy discussion relating to the funding of non-pharmacological therapies.

O sistema visual tem papel fundamental no controle de estabilidade da marcha. Pessoas com problemas visuais apresentam características de instabilidade ao andar. Apesar do número de indivíduos com visão prejudicada ser cada vez menor, pode-se observar essas mesmas características durante a caminhada em privação da visão ou em ambientes com baixa luminosidade. Aparentemente adultos dependem menos da visão que outros grupos para caminhar, sugerindo que possam ter estabilidade mesmo em menores níveis de luz. Assim, não fica claro quanto adultos dependem do sistema visual. Portanto, o objetivo do estudo foi analisar a estabilidade da marcha de adultos com visão saudável em diferentes condições visuais. O controle de luminosidade ambiente, no entanto, é difícil de ser feito. Então, as diferentes condições de visão foram manipuladas através do uso de máscaras com películas diminuindo a passagem de luz até o olho. Primeiramente, os efeitos das condições visuais foram analisados separadamente nos parâmetros de estabilidade e espaço temporais. Logo após, o efeito de duas velocidades de caminhada e a sua interação com as diferentes condições de visão foram verificados. 37 adultos com visão saudável participaram do estudo. Os participantes caminharam aleatoriamente em quatro condições visuais: visão total e com escurecimento da visão usando máscaras envolvidas por película automotiva 50%, 20% e 5% (mais escuro), cada percentual representando o nível de luz passando pela película até o olho. A caminhada foi realizada em duas velocidades: autosselecionada e 30% mais rápida. Sete câmeras de infravermelho capturaram os parâmetros de estabilidade (avaliada através dos deslocamentos do centro de massa em relação à base de suporte) e espaço temporais (comprimento de passo, velocidade da marcha, tempos de apoio). O nível de significância para todos os testes foi de α = 0,05. Os parâmetros de estabilidade e espaço temporais da marcha não mudaram entre condições visuais nas duas velocidades de caminhada, sem efeito de interação entre os fatores. Apenas a cinemática do tronco apresentou diferença nas piores condições visuais (posição mais posterior), adotando um padrão mais cuidadoso durante a caminhada. As ausências de mudanças nas variáveis espaço temporais podem justificar a manutenção dos níveis de estabilidade. Em conclusão, os resultados sugerem que adultos controlam a estabilidade e os padrões da marcha mesmo em menores níveis de luz. / The visual system plays a fundamental role in gait stability control. People with visual impairment show some gait instability characteristics. Although the number of individuals with visual problems is decreasing, it is possible to see the same characteristics during walking in visual deprivation or in environments with low luminosity. Apparently, adults seem to be less visual dependent than other groups to walk, suggesting that they can have stability even in low light levels. Thus, it is not clear of how much adults depend of the visual system. Therefore, the objective of this study is to analyze the gait stability of adults with normal vision in different visual conditions. However, the control of ambient light level is difficult to be done. Then, the different visual conditions were manipulated by using masks with automotive films that decrease the light passage until the eye. First, only the effect of the different visual conditions on stability and spatiotemporal parameters was analyzed. After that, the effect of two walking velocities and its interaction with the different visual conditions was tested. 37 adults without any visual problems participated of the study. All participants walked randomly in four visual conditions: total vision and darkened vision using masks involved by automotive films of 50%, 20% and 5% (lower light level), with each percentage representing the light level passing through the film until the eye. Participants walked at two gait speeds: self-selected and 130% of self-selected walking speed. Seven infrared cameras were used to capture the gait stability (quantified by the center of mass displacements relative to the base of support) and the spatiotemporal parameters (step length, gait speed and stance times). The level of significance adopted for all the tests was α = 0,05. The spatiotemporal and the gait stability parameters did not change between visual conditions at both walking speeds, with no interaction effect between the two factors. Only the trunk kinematics showed differences in the worst visual conditions (more backward position), adopting a more cautious pattern during walking. The absence of changes in spatiotemporal parameters can justify the maintenance in stability variables. In conclusion, these results suggest that adults control the gait stability even in low light levels.

Orientador: Ilma Aparecida Paschoal / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-24T07:53:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Seixas_DanielMachado_M.pdf: 1848962 bytes, checksum: 80ebf21f0114a4503b21846263f7ad6d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: O "Shuttle Walking Test" (SWT), padronizado na literatura como um teste de esforço submáximo e utilizado em pacientes com DPOC (Doença Pulmonar Obstrutiva Crônica), foi aplicado em indivíduos saudáveis para verificar se a dessaturação, após a realização deste teste, é um evento provável. Foram selecionados indivíduos saudáveis, praticantes de atividade física pelo menos 2 vezes por semana em academia de ginastica. Os indivíduos que tivessem antecedentes de doenças pulmonares e/ou cardíacas ou qualquer outra condição de saúde que impossibilitassem a realização do teste foram excluídos do estudo. Os valores de fluxo expiratório do primeiro segundo e do sexto segundo (VEF1 e VEF6) foram determinados antes da realização dos testes através de um medidor digital de pico de fluxo (Peck Flow). Outros parâmetros avaliados antes do SWT foram frequência cardíaca basal e saturação de oxigênio inicial. Logo após o final do teste foram verificados os mesmos parâmetros do início do teste. A versão do SWT utilizada neste trabalho foi a modificada, com 12 níveis de intensidade. Oitenta e três indivíduos (55 homens) foram selecionados (apenas um fumante). A idade média foi 35,05 ± 12,53. O índice de massa corporal (IMC) foi de 24,30 ± 3,47. A média de frequência cardíaca de repouso foi de 75,12 ± 12,48. A média da saturação periférica de O2 (SpO2) em repouso foi 97,96% ± 1,02%. A média do VEF1 foi de 3,75 ± 0,81 L; a média de VEF6 foi de 4,45 ± 0,87 L. A média VEF1/VEF6 foi de 0,83 ± 0,08 (sem restrição e / ou obstrução). A média de distância percorrida foi 958,30 ± 146.32m. A média da frequência cardíaca após SWT foi 162,41 ± 18,24. A média da SpO2 final foi 96,27% ± 2,21%. Onze indivíduos apresentaram maiores valores de SpO2 final; 17 indivíduos tiveram quedas na SpO2 final, igual ou superior a 4 pontos. A comparação entre os grupos, com e sem dessaturação, não mostraram diferenças em idade, sexo, VEF1, VEF6, VEF1/VEF6, saturação inicial, distância caminhada, frequência cardíaca e percentual da frequência cardíaca máxima. O IMC foi maior naqueles que dessaturaram (p = 0,01) e SpO2 final foi menor (p <0,0001). Estes resultados permitem concluir que pessoas saudáveis podem dessaturar após SWT e desta forma, a utilização do SWT para predição de doenças respiratórias leves pode não ser adequada. Dessaturação é comum em indivíduos saudáveis após o SWT, como na atividade física intensa, e pode ter efeitos deletérios. / Abstract: Aim. To perform the shuttle walk test in healthy individuals to determine if desaturation at the end of the test is a probable finding. Healthy subjects were enrolled. Antecedents of pulmonary and/or cardiac diseases or any other health condition were exclusion criteria. FEV1 and FEV6 were determined before the SWT (digital peak flow meter). Baseline heart rate and oxygen saturation were determined with a pulse oxymeter. The SWT was the 12-level version. Saturation was measured after the SWT. Results. 83 subjects (55men) were enrolled (one smoker). Mean age was 35.05±12.53. Mean body mass index (BMI) was 24.30±3.47. Mean rest heart rate was 75.12±12.48. Mean rest SpO2 was 97.96%±1.02%. Mean FEV1 was 3.75±0.81 L; mean FEV6 was 4.45±0.87 L. Mean FEV1/FEV6 was 0.83±0.08 (no restriction and/or obstruction). Mean walk distance was 958.30±146.32m. Mean heart after SWT was 162.41±18.24. Mean final SpO2 was 96.27%±2.21%. Eleven subjects had greater values of final SpO2; 17 subjects had falls in final SpO2 ? 4 points. The comparison between the groups with and without desaturation showed no differences in age, sex, FEV1, FEV6, FEV1/FEV6, initial saturation, walk distance, heart rate and percentage of maximum heart rate. BMI was higher in those who desaturate (p=0.01) and final SpO2 was smaller (p<0.0001). Conclusion. Healthy people may desaturate after SWT; its use to predict the presence of subtle respiratory disorders, may be misleading. Desaturation is common in healthy subjects after the SWT as in intense physical activity and may have deleterious effects. / Mestrado / Clinica Medica / Mestre em Clinica Medica

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare but serious disease with symptoms as dyspnea, fatigue and intolerance to exercise. The treatment is mainly pharmacological with physical exercise as an important complement. The 6 minutes walking test (6MWT) is used today worldwide for assessment and follow-up of the PAH patient. Objective: The aim of this study was to, among a PAH-population in Norrland, examine the 6-minutes walking test variables walking distance, ∆dyspnea and Δsaturation according to change over time and correlation between the variables. A further objectice was to examine any differences between four different PAH risk groups according to ∆dyspné och Δsat. Method:  This study is a retrospective register study based on the Umeå/Sundsvall part of the Swedish patient registry SPAHR. A total of 69 patients were examined at the time of diagnosis and at follow-up after 12 ± 3 months regarding 6MWT. Results: A significantly longer walkning distance was measured at follow-up comepared to baseline (284 m (IQR 187-410) vs 322 m (IQR 240 - 435), p &lt; 0,001). A negative but weak correlation existed  at baseline between walking distance and Δsat (r = -0.23, p= 0.022) and at follow-up (r = -0.27, p= 0.033). No significant difference regarding Δsaturation and Δdyspnea could be seen between the risk groups.  Conclusion: Also this study demonstrates that the walking distance is the measure that is seen to vary over time, while Δsaturation and Δdyspnea have not been shown to do so. The weak correlation that could be detected between walking distance and Δsaturation raises the idea that it may be a factor that strengthens or weakens the result measured in meters and could thus possibly increase the informational value of the 6MWT. However, the results of this study indicate that desaturation and estimated dyspnea are not factors that correlate with the walking distance (and thus the patient's functional working capacity). Other variables such as quality of life and fear of movement may need to be estimated by the patient group to be able to evaluate and plan both pharmacological treatment and physical exercise, and to see if it can predict the outcome of the treatment. This should be studied scientifically.

"Chain walking” catalytic polymerization CWCP is a powerful tool for the one-pot synthesis of a unique class of hyperbranched polyethylene HBPE-based macromolecules with a controllable molecular weight, topology, and composition. This dissertation focuses on new synthetic routes to prepare HBPE-based macromolecular architectures by combining the CWCP technique with ring opening polymerization ROP, atom–transfer radical polymerization ATRP, and “click” chemistry. Taking advantage of end-functionalized HBPE, and a new ethynyl-soketal star-shape agent, we were able to synthesize different types of the HBPE-based architectures including hyperbranched-on-hyperbranched core-shell nanostructure, and miktoarm-star-HBPE-based block copolymers. The first part of the dissertation provides a general introduction to the synthesis of polyethylene types with controllable structures. Well-defined polyethylene with different macromolecule architectures were synthesized either for academic or industrial purposes. In the second part, the HBPE with different topologies was synthesized by CWCP, using a α-diimine Pd (II) catalyst. The effect of the temperature and pressure on the catalyst activity and polymer properties, including branch content, molecular weight, distribution, and thermal properties were studied. Two series of samples were synthesized: a) serial samples (A) under pressures of 1, 5, and 27 atm at 5˚C, and b) serial samples (B) at temperatures of 5, 15, and 35 ˚C under 5 atm. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, 1H NMR, and gel permeation chromatography, GPC, analysis were used to calculate the branching content, molecular weight, and distribution, whereas differential scanning calorimetry, DSC, was used to record the melting and glass transition temperatures as well as the degree of the crystallinity. Well-defined HBPE-based core diblock copolymers with predictable amphiphilic properties are studied in the third part of the project. Hyperbranched polyethylene-b-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), HBPE-b-PNIPAM, and hyperbranched polyethylene-b-poly(solketal acrylate), HBPE-b-PSA, were successfully synthesized by combining CWCP and ATRP. The synthetic methodology includes the following steps; a) synthesis of multifunction hyperbranched polyethylene initiators HBPE-MI by direct copolymerization of ethylene with 2-(2-bromoisobutyryloxy)ethyl acrylate BIEA in the presence of a α-diimine Pd(II) catalyst, and b) HBPE-MI with α-bromoester groups used as initiation sites for ATRP. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, 1H NMR, gel permeation chromatography,GPC, and Fourier transform infrared, FT-IR, spectroscopy, were used for determining the molecular and composition structures. Also, differential scanning calorimetry, DSC, and thermogravimetric analysis, TGA, were used to record the melting temperature and to study the thermal stability, respectively. In the fourth part, a well-defined 3-miktoarm star copolymer 3μ-HBPE(PCL)2 (HBPE: hyperbranched polyethylene, PCL: poly(ε-caprolactone) was synthesized by combining CWCP, ring opening polymerization, ROP, and “click” chemistry. The synthetic methodology includes the following steps: a) synthesis of azido-functionalized hyperbranched polyethylene HBPE-N3 by CWCP of ethylene with the α-diimine Pd(II) catalyst, followed by quenching with an excess of 4-vinylbenzyl chloride and transformation of –Cl to the azido group with sodium azide, b) synthesis of in-chain ethynyl-functionalized poly(ε-caprolactone), (PCL)2-C≡CH by ROP of ε-CL with ethynylfunctionalized solketal [3-(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy) propane-1,2-diol] as a bifunctional initiator, in the presence of P2-t-Bu phosphazene super base, and c) “clicking” HBPE-N3 and (PCL)2-C≡CH using the copper(I)-catalyzed alkyne–azide cycloaddition CuAAC. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, 1H NMR, gel permeation chromatography, GPC, and Fourier transform infrared, FT-IR, spectroscopy, were used to determine the molecular and composition structures. Also, the differential scanning calorimetry, DSC, was used to record the melting point temperature. The fifth part illustrates the self-assembly behavior of the HBPE-based block copolymers of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), NIPAM, and poly(ε-caprolactone), PCL, at room temperature in water and a petroleum ether-selective solvent for NIPAM and PCL respectively. The synthesized copolymers HBPE-b-NIPAM and 3μ-HBPE(PCL)2 revealed either core-shell nanostructure in vesicles or worms and worm-likes branches, as confirmed by combining the analysis of dynamic light scattering, DLS, transmission electron microscopy, TEM, and atomic force spectroscopy, AFM. All the findings presented in this dissertation emphasize the utility of "living" CWCP to synthesize end-functionalized HBPE, and new star-linkage HBPE-based complex architectures. The summary and future works concerning predictable properties and applications are discussed in the sixth part.

This research follows the topic of art and the everyday, and focuses on how our experience of the everyday is a significant area of educational inquiry. This study investigates the potential of walking as an interactive method of art education that relates to the way we learn from our everyday environment, and is connected to the field of visual culture art education, and the aesthetics of everyday life. By taking participants on an art walk, I can observe how they engage with their everyday environment directly, and examine whether walking can promote visual and aesthetic awareness towards their ordinary surroundings. A total of eight participants will be studied during the walk; participants represent a mixed variation of age and gender, with and without backgrounds in art, and will participate in a walking interview followed by a sit-down interview.

Introduction. In Africa, studies on the associations between the perceived neighbourhood walkability and physical activity, particularly, by socio-economic status (SES) remain scarce. This study explores these associations by validating the Neighbourhood Environmental Walkability Scale (NEWS-Africa) in an urban setting of South Africa to gain a better understanding of the construct of neighbourhood “walkability”. Methods. A convient sample of residents from four suburbs in urban metropole (n=52, 18-65yr, 81% women) in the Western Cape Province, South Africa (viz. Langa, Khayelitsha, Pinelands and Table View) were recruited through invitations following community gatherings and church services. Measures were obtained on perceived neighbourhood walkability, self-reported and measured physical activity and socio-economic status. Langa and Khayelitsha represented two primarily low-SES townships, whereas Pinelands and Table View represented suburbs of a higher-SES. Participants completed the 76-item (13 subscales) NEWS-Africa survey by structured interviews and reported weekly minutes of walking for transport and recreation using items from the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Objective data on physical activity was collected using accelerometers, and ground-truthing was used to assess the neighbourhood environment using global information systems (GIS) in a 1000m buffer around each geocoded household. The research was carried out in three parts: 1) Evaluating the reliability and construct validity of the NEWS-Africa instrument between the two-SES groups. 2) Examining some of the walkability constructs and subscales of the NEWS-Africa instrument using GIS and ground-truthing, and the extent to which the SES of communities influenced these associations. 3) Examining the differences in self-reported physical activity (domains), measured physical activity (MVPA) when groups are divided according to SES, GIS walkability (1000m buffers) and if the data support the notion of utilitarian walking in low SES groups, irrespective of the built environment attributes. Results. For the combined-SES groups, the test-retest reliability indicated a good reliability with 10 out of the 13 scales of the NEWS-Africa being significantly and positively correlated. The Spearman’s correlations ranged from (rs = -0.43, p=0.00 to rs = 0.79, p=0.00). For construct validity of the NEWS -Africa instrument against self-reported physical activity, only three scales were related to walking for transport: Neighbourhood surroundings scale (rs= -0.34, p=0.01), Safety from Traffic scale (rs =0.34, p< 0.05) and people in the low-SES and combined SES perceived public bus/ train stops to be nearer than they actually were (rs =-0.50, P< 0.05). Of the 13 scales of the NEWS-Africa questionnaire, 6 were significantly correlated to GIS-measured walkability index parameters. The Roads and walking paths scale was positively associated with GIS-measured walkability (rs = 0.3), and the Stranger danger scale was negatively associated with GIS-measured walkability (rs = -0.4). When we considered GIS-measured Land use mix, 3 of the NEWS- Africa scales were correlated (For the entire sample, the scales including Places for walking, cycling and playing overall scale (rs = 0.3), and Neighbourhood surroundings scale (rs = 0.3), were positively associated respectively). Conversely, Stranger danger scale was inversely correlated (rs = -0.6). Intersection density measured with GIS was significantly and positively associated with the Roads and walking paths scale for all groups combined (rs = 0.3). For GIS-measured walkability, self-report physical and measured physical activity, there were no associations in any of the domains for self-reported physical activity within the 1000m buffer for all groups. However, for the objectively measured physical activity in the 1000m buffer, vigorous physical activity (rs = -0.39) was inversely associated with intersection density in the low-SES and moderate (rs = -0.29) and total MVPA (rs = -0.31) were inversely associated with Intersection density in the high SES. Conclusions: The overall results of the current study across all chapters generally show a mismatch between the perceived and objectively-assessed built environment, particularly in low-income communities. Furthermore, in low-SES communities, we failed to show the expected relationships between attributes of the built environment and physical activity, suggesting that physical activity in these communities is more utilitarian in nature, and as such, may not be as influenced by aspect of the built environment. In summary, the data suggest that the environment (including crime rates, poor access to physical activity facilities and public transportation predominantly made by buses) has less of an association with physical activity in LMICs and more disadvantaged communities, where physical activity is used for utilitarian, rather than recreational purposes. This study stemmed from the need to broaden research on the relationship between the built environment and physical activity, considering walkability constructs. These findings also suggest that the definition of the construct of walkability be re-examined, in relation to low SES settings.

El texto completo de este trabajo no está disponible en el Repositorio Académico UPC por restricciones de la casa editorial donde ha sido publicado. / Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a bus-based public transport system that increase the effectiveness of public transportation through dedicated lanes with busways and independent stations. However, the low capacity at the stations and the high demand of the system increases the respiratory diseases risk caused by the interaction between pedestrians. This article proposes to make the main access point an entrance only and the access point at the opposite end of the platform an exit only, allowing one-way walking paths. This research is focused on the reduction of conflict points between pedestrians generated by walking flows in opposite directions. A BRT station located in the city of Lima was used as a case study for the investigation. It was identified for the peak hour that the area with the highest pedestrian interaction occurs in the station platform and boarding areas. The efficiency of the proposal is validated by using the Viswalk software. The results obtained show that the conflict points decreased by 68.5% and the pedestrian density by 45%. From that perspective, the pedestrian flows were optimized, and the risk of respiratory diseases was reduced.

The PCR-based genome walking method has been commonly used to isolate upstream regions from known cDNA sequences. The limitation of this technique is based on the location of the restriction site upstream to the gene-specific primer in the genome; hence, different restriction enzymes have to be used to isolate larger upstream fragments. In this paper, we present the advantageous use of partial and size-selected DNA as templates for genome walking, in isolating larger upstream fragments. We have successfully tested this approach to isolate larger upstream fragments using the FailSafe™ PCR System. Use of partial digestion and size selection can provide better chances in obtaining larger flanking regions of known DNA sequence, when compared to use of total digested DNA.