In the United States, we have been battling the bed bug (Cimex lectularius L.) resurgence for over ten years. Current treatment methods are labor intensive, time consuming, and very expensive. Many studies have evaluated the efficacy of treatment methods, but few have focused on bed bug suppression in multi-unit housing. Low income, multi-unit housing residents lack basic bed bug knowledge and are particulary vulnerable to bed bug infestations because they are unable to afford conventional treatment. In this study, diatomaceous earth (D.E.), an inexpensive desiccant dust labeled for bed bug control, was evaluated for its efficacy in killing bed bugs, and determined to be successful. A proactive bed bug suppression program that included D.E. was implemented in a low-income housing facility in Harrisonburg, VA. The program consisted of inexpensive, low toxicity, integrated bed bug management methods, including a novel strategy for applying a perimeter barrier of D.E. in apartment units (n = 121). Over the course of one year, both the number of initial infestations and the costs associated with bed bug treatments were reduced. Low-income, multi-unit housing residents (n = 479) from three cities (Harrisonburg and Richmond, VA; New Orleans, LA) were surveyed before and after an educational seminar to assess their bed bug. After attending the seminar, residents (n = 112) significantly improved (P < 0.0001) their bed bug knowledge, and were able to correctly answer more bed bug-related questions than they had before the educational seminar. / Master of Science in Life Sciences

Urban Interventions are too often regarded by long-time inhabitants of city neighborhoods as a means to displace them from their homes to make room for expensive chain stores and exclusive residential buildings - gentrification. This view is unfortunately correct more often than not. An intervention should instead aim to improve the physical environment, public space. It will allow equal access to all residents. The street will shift from automobile centered to people-centered. The introduction of vegetation to the urban environment in an intervention not only improves air and water quality and reduces urban heat, but offers long lasting positive effects on the general well-being of residents by providing psychological relief. The forms that shape this urban intervention will take the above mentioned items into consideration, and in addition possess qualities that spur interactions that shape memory of the place. Undulations, extrusions that provide shade and shelter, bridging features - allow an urban scene to unfold. Careful placement of vertical planes will provide a sense of enclosure and a place for respite from the hectic activity beyond. / Master of Architecture

The Best PhD Thesis in the Faculties of Architecture, Arts, Business & Economics, Education, Law and Social Sciences (University of Hong Kong), Li Ka Shing Prize, 2005-2006. / published_or_final_version / abstract / Real Estate and Construction / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

by Kai-Fu Wong. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1989. / Bibliography: leaves 90-99.

The Integrated Apartment Management System (IAMS) is a web-based system that allows tenants to make appointments with repairmen on line and notify both apartment managers and repairmen of appointments through an email directly from IAMS. IAMS also keeps a database of appointments, repairs, and payments that can be accessed by tenants, repairmen, and apartment managers.

Syftet med denna studie är att beskriva de kostnadsskillnader som föreligger mellan ägarlägenhetsfastigheter och bostadsrätter. Studien kommer att belysa de löpande kostnaderna samt de engångskostnader som ett bostadsköp innebär för respektive boendeform. Då ägarlägenheten är den nyaste boendeformen på den svenska marknaden undersöks andrahandsöverlåtelser av dessa i förhållande till aktuell prisutveckling på bostadsrätter. Slutligen sker en undersökning av de påverkansmöjligheter en samfällighetsförening för ägarlägenheter har gällande de löpande kostnaderna av gemensamma ytor. Genom att studera främst skattemässiga förhållanden har en beräkning genomförts som visar kostnadsskillnaderna mellan ägarlägenheter och bostadsrätter. En utvärdering av genomförda andrahandsöverlåtelser för ägarlägenheter har gjorts efter material som behandlar överlåtelser av ägarlägenheter i Sverige. Två intervjuer har genomförts med representanter för samfällighetsföreningar för ägarlägenheter. Under intervjuerna diskuterades olika tillvägagångssätt för att minska kostnaderna för de gemensamma ytorna. Inköpspriset för en ägarlägenhet är högre än för bostadsrätten medan månadskostnaden är lägre för ägarlägenheten. Främsta anledningen till kostnadsskillnaderna är de cirka 33 procent av kostnaderna för att producera en bostadsrätt som lånas upp av bostadsrättföreningen. För ägarlägenheter är produktionskostnaderna lika höga fast inga lån upptas inom samfällighetsföreningen vilket gör att inköpspriset är cirka 33 procent högre. De andrahandsöverlåtelser som undersökts visar en positiv prisutveckling för ägarlägenheter. Huruvida detta är kopplat till boendeformen eller inte är svårt att utvärdera då prisutvecklingen på samtliga bostäder ökat kraftigt de senaste åren. Intervjuerna rörande förvaltning av gemensamma ytor för ägarlägenheter visade att kostnaderna kan sänkas genom engagemang, leverantörsbyte samt omförhandlingar av vissa avtal. / The purpose of this study is to describe the cost differences, which exist between owner-occupied apartments and condominiums. The study will describe the current costs for housing and the non-recurrent costs for purchasing. Current resale prices on the transfer of owner-occupied apartments have been studied in relation to the current price trend of condominiums. Finally, there is a study about the influence a joint property management association for the owner-occupied apartments have on the current costs for the joint areas. By studying mainly fiscal conditions, a calculation that present differences in costs between the owner-occupied apartments is presented. An evaluation of completed secondary transfers for condominiums and owner-occupied apartments is also presented. Two interviews has been conducted with representatives of joint property management association belonging to owner-occupied apartments. The interviews shows different approaches to reduce costs for maintaining the joint areas. Calculations of the cost differences show that the purchase price of an owner-occupied apartment is higher and that the monthly cost is higher for condominiums. The main reason for the cost differences is the mortage of the condominium associations resulting in approximately 33 percent higher current costs for condominiums. For owner-occupied apartments, the loans is with the owner of the apartment, making the purchase price about 33 percent higher. The joint property management association for the owner-occupied apartments has no mortgage. Prices for secondary transfers show a positive trend for owner-occupied apartments. Whether this is connected to the form of housing or something else is difficult to clarify since the prices of residential in Sweden has increased in recent years. Interviews regarding the management and maintenance of the common areas associated to the owner-occupied apartments shows that costs can be reduced by better procurement, in example better negotiations evaluations and choice of supplier.

This study develops a checklist of accessibility housing design features to aid the wheelchair user in evaluating apartments. It also evaluates relationships between accessibility and price, size, location, age, and subsidy of 25 apartments in Tucson, Arizona. Apartments were rated based on their adoption of the standards as set forth by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the City of Tucson. Category A is those features specified by both agencies, Category B is those specified by ANSI only and Category C is those not specified. Category D is features not rated. A Total Rating Score is also given. A score of 80 was considered a minimum acceptable rating. Twenty percent of the apartments tested were found to be in compliance with the requirements of Category A, those features required by statute. Sixteen percent were in compliance with Category B and only four percent were in compliance with the other two categories. No significant relationships were found between accessibility and the five housing factors.

The substitution of parties to the legal relationship in relation to renting apartments The contract of rental, the renting apartments, the landlord, the tenant Executive Summary The aim of the thesis is to describe the legal relationship aspects arising in relation to the substitution of parties to renting apartments, with the focus being on substitution initiated by the tenant. The key reason for choosing this topic is the author's personal experience with dealing with the issues that arose as a result of the transfer of rights and obligations pertaining to renting of an apartment of the author's acquaintance, his experience gained during the assistance at the civil proceedings held by district court for Prague 3, the fact that renting is currently an issue of great significance in the Czech law system, and also the increasing number of people living in rented apartments. The thesis comprises ten chapters, each of them considering different aspects of the issues involved. Having provided the background information to the reader in the introductory chapter, the first chapter considers the historical framework of renting apartments. The chapters explores the renting of apartments in accordance with Roman law throughout the Middle Ages up to the present Czech legal regulations, including the rental agreement...

The aim of this thesis is to analyze legislative regulation of the transfers of the ownership of the cooperative apartments. The reason for my research is, because I consider this topic to be hot, relevant and still developing, moreover with new Czech private law legislation, which is coming into force on 1st January 2014. This thesis composes of four chapters, each of them dealing with different aspects of transfers of ownerships of cooperative apartments. Chapter one is introductory and defines basic terminology important for understanding this thesis. It is subdivided into for subsections. First subsection introduce cooperative company, it`s principles and more. Second subsection investigates housing cooperatives as special type of cooperatives, it`s legal base and special forms. Third subsection deals with definition of apartment and the last subsection with cooperative apartments. Second chapter in this thesis is addresses issue of comparison of ownership, rent or cooperative rent, deals with every regime and finds out cons and pros of each one of them. Third chapter is the main one, which illustrates types of transfers of the ownership of the cooperative apartments, which are possible in Czech law. It also deals with procedure of transfer itself and introduces special conditions in certain...

This thesis is devoted to leisure time during interwar time (1918-1938). The main interest concentrates on phenomenon of visiting summer apartments and his character, perception in society and specific relationship to leisure time. Summer apartments were symbol of good status and were very popular among the middle class, but thesis is also dedicated to tramping and beginning of living at the cottage because of specific atmosphere of Czechoslovak republic in 1918-1938. Keywords: Lifestyle, leisure time, summer apartments, tramping, living at the cottage