The application of geographic information systems was used to map obesogenic conditions by zip code tabulation areas in Durham County, North Carolina and evaluated associations between those conditions and the understudied area of early childhood obesity. Of the thirty one percent of the children in Durham County, North Carolina who were considered obese in 2010, four hundred and thirty three (1:5) 2 - 4 year old children who received supplemental nutrition services for women, infants and children were obese with BMI levels greater or equal to the 95th percentile and were used as the criterion variable in the study (N=433). The study's research questions examined conditions of the neighborhood that impeded the weight status of young children. The theoretical framework included the environmental stress, socioeconomic, multiple exposures-multiple effects, and attachment theories. The twenty - six variables used in this secondary quantitative study included demographics on socioeconomic and education levels, home occupancy and vacancy rates, age of homes, and neighborhood accessibility features: access to parks; recreation facilities; grocery stores verses convenience stores; fast food restaurants; medical facilities; schools; day cares; and neighborhood incivilities such as numbers of reported crimes. The t - test were configured as Grouping Variables with the cut-point of 18.7% and with an Alpha of .05 and produced statistical significance on five of twenty - six variables. A mean rate of 19.3% yielded statistical significance on ten of twenty - six variables. The Levene's Test for Equality of Variances expressed assumptions on scores met for statistical significance on t-test at the Alpha = 0.05 level for twenty - four of the twenty - six variables. The results of this study would possibly increase the use of the innovative geographic information systems to inform policy decisions, environmental interventions and environmental design on obesogenic correlates between the understudied area of early childhood obesity and the built environment.

Atat&uuml / rk Forest Farm is a unique spatial practice representing the main philosophy of the Turkish Republic to create a new society by holding together modern agricultural and industrial production techniques, combining them with leisure activities and developing an urban farm. Eventually it is neither simply a land problem nor a heritage issue. Its being is evaluated as a conscious contribution for the cultural transformation of the Turkish nation. Therefore, its genesis is discussed in relation to the main definitions of culture in history: 1) cultivating nature with the idea of increasing the efficiency in products and lands / 2) cultivation of minds in relation to the education of human beings / 3) the process of social development / 4) meanings, values, ways of life / 5) practices which produce meanings and finally 6) the meshing of anthropological views linking the two definitions of &lsquo / a way of life&rsquo / and &lsquo / the production of meaning&rsquo / as a network of representations. The research has proved that there are very few experiments that might have some resemblance with Atat&uuml / rk Forest Farm, however, its stance as a culture transformation agent is unique.

Nova Scotia is one of the least active provinces in Canada and is experiencing rising levels of obesity and related diseases. Women in Canada have low rates of participation in physical activity, despite the many benefits. The purpose of this research was to develop an understanding of how the built, natural and social environments act as enablers and barriers to the use of active transportation for midlife women. A qualitative, grounded theory approach was used in conjunction with a feminist perspective to explore the research topic. Findings suggest that the characteristics of the route and region, the presence or lack of support, and the perceived value and benefits of active transportation affect the type of transportation mode that is selected for commuting. Findings also reveal the ways that women respond to and overcome barriers. Implications for health promotion and future research are discussed.

The dissertation examines the problem of students’ training and testing. To solve the problem, new model, algorithms and system have been developed and adapted. The developed system enables organizing of individual and group train-ing and self-control process. Integrated intelligent search subsystem helps to de-velop the study plan for the themes of interest. The system continuously moni-tors the user and can respond to his failure. The developed built environment computer learning subsystem performs practical calculations to assess the built environment projects. The main problem solved by development of the subsystem is reduction of time needed for users to create their own systems. Knowledge database created during the system devel-opment can be a good source of knowledge for new or similar projects evalua-tions. Calculation results can be saved for further research or shared with other users of the system. The dissertation consists of Introduction, 4 Chapters, Conclusions, Refer-ences, and List of Author’s Publications. The introduction reveals the investigated problem, importance of the thesis and the object of research and describes the purpose and tasks of the dissertation, research methodology, scientific novelty, the practical significance of results examined in the dissertation and defended statements. The introduction ends in presenting the author’s publications on the subject of the defended dissertation, offering the material of made presentations in conferences... [to full text] / Disertacijoje nagrinėjama studentų mokymo ir testavimo problema. Problemai spręsti buvo sukurti ir pritaikyti nauji modeliai, algoritmai ir sistema. Sukurta sistema leidžia organizuoti individualų ir grupinį mokymo ir savikontrolės procesą. Integruota intelektinė paieškos posistemė leidžia sudaryti dominančios tematikos mokymosi planą. Sistema nuolat stebi vartotoją ir gali reaguoti į jo mokymosi nesėkmes. Sukurta kompiuterinio mokymo posistemė, skirta statiniams ir jų aplinkai, atlieka praktinį statinių ir jų aplinkos projektų vertinimą. Pagrindinė išspręsta problema kuriant posistemę yra laiko sąnaudų mažinimas, kurių reikėtų kuriant atskiras sistemas. Žinių bazė, kuri buvo sudaryta kuriant sistemą gali tapti pagrindu naujiems ar panašiems projektams vertinti. Skaičiavimo rezultatai gali būti išsaugoti tolesniems tyrimams atlikti arba jais galima dalintis su kitais sistemos vartotojais. Disertaciją sudaro įvadas, keturi skyriai, rezultatų apibendrinimas, naudotos literatūros sąrašas ir autoriaus publikacijų disertacijos tema sąrašas. Įvade aptariama tiriamoji problema, darbo aktualumas, aprašomas tyrimų objektas, formuluojamas darbo tikslas bei uždaviniai, aprašoma tyrimų metodika, darbo mokslinis naujumas, darbo rezultatų praktinė reikšmė, ginamieji teiginiai. Įvado pabaigoje pristatomos disertacijos tema autoriaus paskelbtos publikacijos bei pranešimai konferencijose ir disertacijos struktūra. Pirmame disertacijos skyriuje atliekama literatūros apžvalga. Nagrinėjama... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

Disertacijoje nagrinėjama studentų mokymo ir testavimo problema. Problemai spręsti buvo sukurti ir pritaikyti nauji modeliai, algoritmai ir sistema. Sukurta sistema leidžia organizuoti individualų ir grupinį mokymo ir savikontrolės procesą. Integruota intelektinė paieškos posistemė leidžia sudaryti dominančios tematikos mokymosi planą. Sistema nuolat stebi vartotoją ir gali reaguoti į jo mokymosi nesėkmes. Sukurta kompiuterinio mokymo posistemė, skirta statiniams ir jų aplinkai, atlieka praktinį statinių ir jų aplinkos projektų vertinimą. Pagrindinė išspręsta problema kuriant posistemę yra laiko sąnaudų mažinimas, kurių reikėtų kuriant atskiras sistemas. Žinių bazė, kuri buvo sudaryta kuriant sistemą gali tapti pagrindu naujiems ar panašiems projektams vertinti. Skaičiavimo rezultatai gali būti išsaugoti tolesniems tyrimams atlikti arba jais galima dalintis su kitais sistemos vartotojais. Disertaciją sudaro įvadas, keturi skyriai, rezultatų apibendrinimas, naudotos literatūros sąrašas ir autoriaus publikacijų disertacijos tema sąrašas. Įvade aptariama tiriamoji problema, darbo aktualumas, aprašomas tyrimų objektas, formuluojamas darbo tikslas bei uždaviniai, aprašoma tyrimų metodika, darbo mokslinis naujumas, darbo rezultatų praktinė reikšmė, ginamieji teiginiai. Įvado pabaigoje pristatomos disertacijos tema autoriaus paskelbtos publikacijos bei pranešimai konferencijose ir disertacijos struktūra. Pirmame disertacijos skyriuje atliekama literatūros apžvalga. Nagrinėjama... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The dissertation examines the problem of students’ training and testing. To solve the problem, new model, algorithms and system have been developed and adapted. The developed system enables organizing of individual and group train-ing and self-control process. Integrated intelligent search subsystem helps to de-velop the study plan for the themes of interest. The system continuously moni-tors the user and can respond to his failure. The developed built environment computer learning subsystem performs practical calculations to assess the built environment projects. The main problem solved by development of the subsystem is reduction of time needed for users to create their own systems. Knowledge database created during the system devel-opment can be a good source of knowledge for new or similar projects evalua-tions. Calculation results can be saved for further research or shared with other users of the system. The dissertation consists of Introduction, 4 Chapters, Conclusions, Refer-ences, and List of Author’s Publications. The introduction reveals the investigated problem, importance of the thesis and the object of research and describes the purpose and tasks of the dissertation, research methodology, scientific novelty, the practical significance of results examined in the dissertation and defended statements. The introduction ends in presenting the author’s publications on the subject of the defended dissertation, offering the material of made presentations in conferences... [to full text]

This study maps research concerning person environment interrelationships with health and wellbeing outcomes. The purpose of this study is to provide insights into the inter-relationship between the built environment (BE) and human health and wellbeing as it is conveyed in research literature. It particularly focuses on literature that connects built environment, emotions, feelings, mind and body. This thesis therefore provides a review of relevant literature on the physical environment, with a focus on person environment (PE) relationship that may influence the person's psychological and physiological systems consequently affecting health and wellbeing. Specifically, psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is used to identify dimensions of the BE which are significant for this study. The understanding of PE interrelationships to health outcomes is achieved by undertaking a transdisciplinary outlook. To conceptualise the 'person' as a whole and the workings of the mind and human system PNI has been recognised as a main platform. PNI is the study of mind-body relationships (Evans, et al, 2000), providing a scientific framework which captures the understanding of the inter-relationship of the mind to the neuroendocrine systems and the immune systems with the aim of understanding the influence of the mind on eliciting as well as preventing illnesses. The work was motivated by the need for better understanding of the human interaction/transaction in an interior environment and their consequences on health. An exploration of literature from both the environmental and health fields provided a knowledge base upon which to develop an understanding of the interrelationship. Research has demonstrated a link between the BE and wellbeing, however, this is limited in its application and/or scope. For example, over the past years there has been an increasing amount of research showing the possible influence of the environment in reducing stress (Sommer & Oslen, 1980; Kaplan, 1983; O'Neill, 1991; Wapner & Demick, 2000; Parsons & Tassinary, 2002, Frumkin, 2006). In addition, there is growing evidence that indicates there is a relationship between BE and health including the psychological and physiological systems, in healthcare environments (Ulrich & Zimring, 2004). However, while there is ample research in the areas of environmental stressors and other determinants of the environment in contributing to health, less research has been undertaken in studying the impact of the environment on health (Evans& McCoy, 1998). The potential of the environment in contributing to the mental wellbeing of a person and how this could affect the physical health therefore needs further investigation (Solomon, 1996). The methodology followed was Coopers (1998) 'research synthesis' and the tool to sort the domains and PE interrelationships was adapted from White's (1989) 'space adjacency analysis'. The scope of this study was limited to explorations of literature that inquired into PE relationships that fit into the primarily established 'integrative systems model'; a parameter that enabled categorisation of the literature into the areas that related to the PNI framework. The findings illustrate that the person is interrelated to the environment in several ways and can be interpreted and explained in terms of various dimensions such as the psychological, physical, social, and spatial dimensions. Furthermore, empirical research indicates that the environment impacts on a person's health and wellbeing through psychological and physiological systems. PNI acknowledges the interrelationship of the mind and body systems contributing to an integrative systems model of human health and wellbeing. As an outcome, the study has produced an analysis method and a navigation map of the various literature domains related to PE interrelationships in terms of health and wellbeing. This has been facilitated by the development of, a 'PE integrative systems model'. Apart from demonstrating the need for transdisciplinary research and contributing to research methodology, the study also adds to the current design knowledge base providing BE professionals and creators with a better understanding of the health outcomes from PE interrelationships.

[Truncated abstract] The main purpose of this research was to conduct a series of studies with the aim of contributing information about methods for measuring and analyzing physical environmental attributes of neighbourhoods and the influence of these attributes on specific types of physical activity behaviour. Furthermore, this research examined the moderating affect of the objective physical environment on the relationship between cognitions and physical activity behaviours and the mediating role of the cognitions on the associations between the objective physical environment and physical activity. The research included secondary analyses of data collected as part of the Studies of Environmental and Individual Determinants of Physical Activity (SEID1 and SEID2: Corti 1998; Pikora 2003) and the Physical Activity in Localities and Community Environments study (PLACE: Leslie et al. 2005a; Leslie et al. 2005b). Demographic, cognitive, social and behavioural data from the baseline and follow-up surveys from SEID1 (Corti 1998), and objectively measured built environmental data from SEID2 (Pikora 2003) were analyzed. ... A stronger association between frequency of past trying and recreational walking was also found for respondents residing in neighbourhoods with more recreational destinations (β = 0.11), compared with fewer destinations (β = 0.00). These findings show some evidence that the built environment can affect exercise-related cognitions, which in turn influence physical activity. Findings of this and other research (Owen et al. 2000; Humpel et al. 2002; Saelens et al. 2003b; Foster & Hillsdon 2004; McCormack et al. 2004; Owen et al. 2004; Badland & Schofield 2005; Duncan et al. 2005; Heath et al. 2006) support the need to create supportive environments that encourage both recreational and transport-related physical activity. Providing more opportunities and a greater variety of destinations close to home could encourage physical activity participation, and may even assist some individuals to achieve sufficient levels to accrue health benefits. However, additional research is necessary to understand how both the perceived and objectively measured built environment influences physical activity and to provide evidence of temporal causality between environments, cognitions, and physical activity behaviour.

No description available.

Esta dissertação tem como temática a análise da produção do espaço urbano em cidades litorâneas a partir da articulação de três esferas: a urbanização, a economia e o mercado imobiliário, e suas relações com o ambiente construído, tendo como eixo impulsionador a produção de segundas residências. Como estudo de caso o município litorâneo de Capão da Canoa, localizado no Litoral Norte do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Esse município tem como característica principal um intenso processo de crescimento urbano, caracterizado pela verticalização e pela densificação do tecido construído, e, como agravante, a ocupação urbana representada por uma população fixa e uma população sazonal muito significativa. O trabalho tem o objetivo tratar do boom imobiliário gerado pela indústria da construção civil, como modo de urbanização e da economia urbana local com forte investimento nesse setor. Para abordar o tema proposto, optou-se numa análise teórica que envolve conceitos referentes à urbanização e ao ambiente construído relacionado à economia urbana local. A metodologia utilizada fundamenta-se em dados institucionais, do poder público municipal, de associações, do levantamento empírico e de entrevistas. As análises qualitativas e quantitativas demonstraram um resultado em que a economia urbana do município está vinculada direta e indiretamente à cadeia produtiva da construção civil, sendo essa sua locomotiva substancialmente mais importante. A regulamentação do uso do solo urbano está condicionada às exigências do mercado imobiliário. Houve, no período 1990-2010, uma mudança brusca do patamar de novos empreendimentos imobiliários, com a média anual de 24.400m² passando para 106.290m² anuais, mais do que quadruplicando nesse período. A literatura salienta que, na era moderna, o litoral passa e ser apropriado culturalmente, identificando-se como um espaço de lazer, tornando-se mais valorizado, sustentando assim, uma das indústrias de maior dinamismo – aquela ligada às atividades turísticas e de veraneio. O resultado do levantamento empírico na área selecionada demonstra que embora haja pontos de intensa verticalização e de maior densificação, existe ainda, potencial construtivo de aproximadamente 50% no setor estabelecido pelo Plano Diretor de 2004. Embora, existe a conscientização dos órgãos reguladores sobre os problemas causados pela intensa densificação em alguns pontos, o poder público ainda não propôs um novo ordenamento territorial, não havendo, portanto, pressão para uma mudança de comportamento tanto da indústria, quanto do poder público regulatório. / This study explores the development of urban spaces in coastal towns from three different articulation points - urbanization, economy and housing market - and their relation with the built environment. It has the construction of second homes as its main triggering point. As a case study, this inquiry used Capão da Canoa, a coastal town located in the Northern part of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. This town features a strong process of urban growth, which differs from other locations because of its verticalization, densification in constructed areas and, as an exacerbating factor, urban sprawl represented by a fixed population and a very significant seasonal one. This study aims at exploring the Real Estate boom generated by the construction industry, discussing the local urbanization and the urban economy with its major investments in this sector. In order to approach this subject, we chose to perform a theoretical analysis comprising concepts related to urbanization and built environment linked to local urban economy. The methodology used to support our study takes into consideration institutional data coming from municipal public power, associations, empirical surveys and interviews. Qualitative and quantitative analyses have shown that the urban economy of this city is tied, directly and indirectly, to the productive chain of the construction industry and that the last one ends up being its most significant fuel. Furthermore, regulations over the use of urban land are subjected to Real Estate requirements. There have been sudden changes on the amount of new Real Estate developments in the period from 1990 to 2010, which have caused the construction average to fourfold and annual averages to increase from 24.400m² to 106,290m². Literature mentions that, in modern ages, coastal areas have been taken over by different cultures, because they are becoming leisure spots; and this fact is responsible for turning these locations into highly valuated spots, supporting, this way, two of the most dynamic industries: tourism and summer activities. Results from empirical surveys performed in this area show that even though there are spots where verticalization and densification are severe, there is still a 50% potential for constructive opportunities as established by the 2004 Development Plan. However, regulatory bodies are concerned about intense densification in some areas, public power has not created a new land planning yet, and that is why there is no pressure on making the construction industry and regulatory public bodies to change their current behavior.

Cathedrals today are no longer sites of just religious worship, they must be many things to many people such as tourist attractions, heritage centres, and meeting places. Today, Durham Cathedral in the north-east of England is home to almost 900 people engaged on site, of which almost 700 are volunteers. Add to that number over 700,000 visitors and about 1,700 religious services annually, and a complex image of life within Durham Cathedral begins to take shape. Drawing on 14 months of ethnographic fieldwork between August 2013 and September 2014, this thesis takes a phenomenological approach in exploring the dynamic relationships that exist between a 900-year-old building and those who regularly come into contact with that building. It will consider the complex negotiations that take place between the many parts of the community and the building in a constantly changing environment, and will focus on the role sound, light, time, and space play in the constant challenge of change and negotiation. Finally, it will consider how buildings are not only constructed but are also cultivated through being built and rebuilt, spaces negotiated and improvised, as well as filled with stories and memories. The importance of this research is not just in observing and understanding the types of change and negotiation that occur between a building and those who inhabit it, but also in understanding the altering roles of religious buildings as they cope with the changing demands of running a site of both historical and continuing social, religious, and financial pressures, Durham Cathedral is a place that gives space to differing communities, allowing people to find in the building what they need from the building and as a result of this, Durham Cathedral is not a place in which life happens, it is a place with which life happens.