The study proposes an application of Talens (2003) methodological framework for assessing neighbourhood-level (i.e., non-motorised mode) accessibility, and offers recommendations for improving non-motorized transportation (NMT) accessibility to enhance multimodal integration between bicycles and buses in contemporary North American suburban neighbourhoods. Accessibility (or access) is defined as the average travel time or distance between a given origin and destination along the shortest available street network route. The study considers characteristics of the transportation network such as available route directness, facilities, and transit service provision to determine their impacts on bicycle access. A further methodology for comparing bicycle versus bus modal efficiencies within suburban contexts is developed and applied to the case study. A review of approaches designed to promote bicycling while discouraging personal automobile use provides a toolbox of proven treatments that are applied to a case study of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan a city of approximately 200,000 people. The approach provides a process that can be used by city or transit planners to identify neighbourhoods that lack sufficient access and apply treatments that improve bicycle accessibility and bicycle-transit integration. Results suggest existing potential for the bicycle as an access mode within contemporary suburban neighbourhood transportation networks. The case study supports the notion that suburban bicycle-bus integration could be used as a viable alternative to automobiles for daily home-to-node activity trips, and raises questions about the current allocation of public transit service to suburban routes within the context of the case study. Discussion and conclusions suggest directions for future research in this field of sustainable urban transportation planning.

The purpose of this study was to address the need for a straightforward and practical tool for evaluating public transit accessibility to places of employment. The need for such a study stems from the widespread adoption of planning policies by Canadian municipalities seeking to promote public transit commuting as part of their broader efforts to develop environmentally and socially sustainable transportation systems. To date, planners have not had any practical methods for identifying barriers to public transit commuting nor for evaluating the extent to which stated goals and objectives are being achieved. <p> The study was conducted in three stages. First, a Comprehensive Definition of Public Transit Commuter Needs was developed by means of a literature review, a survey questionnaire, and consultations with sustainable transportation advocacy groups. In the second stage, the Comprehensive Definition of Public Transit Commuter Needs was used as a framework for creating the Public Transit Commuter Accessibility Audit. Through a six-step process that involves the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data, this tool provides planners with a means of identifying any potential obstacles or deterrents to public transit travel within the context of actual spatio-temporal commuter flows. The practical utility of the Public Transit Commuter Accessibility Audit was tested in the third stage by means of two case studies conducted in the City of Ottawa, Canada. <p> This study has shown that commuters require a broad array of infrastructure, facilities and services in order for public transit to represent a viable travel option. It has also revealed that responsibility for promoting public transit commuting rests not only with transit agencies, but also with land use and transportation planners, private developers and employers. Furthermore, the case studies successfully demonstrated that application of the Public Transit Commuter Accessibility Audit can provide a preliminary indication of problem areas where direct planning interventions may be required, where municipal planning policies may need revision or more aggressive implementation, or where new policies may be necessary in order to increase the viability of public transit commuting.

The purpose of this study was to address the need for a straightforward and practical tool for evaluating public transit accessibility to places of employment. The need for such a study stems from the widespread adoption of planning policies by Canadian municipalities seeking to promote public transit commuting as part of their broader efforts to develop environmentally and socially sustainable transportation systems. To date, planners have not had any practical methods for identifying barriers to public transit commuting nor for evaluating the extent to which stated goals and objectives are being achieved. <p> The study was conducted in three stages. First, a Comprehensive Definition of Public Transit Commuter Needs was developed by means of a literature review, a survey questionnaire, and consultations with sustainable transportation advocacy groups. In the second stage, the Comprehensive Definition of Public Transit Commuter Needs was used as a framework for creating the Public Transit Commuter Accessibility Audit. Through a six-step process that involves the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data, this tool provides planners with a means of identifying any potential obstacles or deterrents to public transit travel within the context of actual spatio-temporal commuter flows. The practical utility of the Public Transit Commuter Accessibility Audit was tested in the third stage by means of two case studies conducted in the City of Ottawa, Canada. <p> This study has shown that commuters require a broad array of infrastructure, facilities and services in order for public transit to represent a viable travel option. It has also revealed that responsibility for promoting public transit commuting rests not only with transit agencies, but also with land use and transportation planners, private developers and employers. Furthermore, the case studies successfully demonstrated that application of the Public Transit Commuter Accessibility Audit can provide a preliminary indication of problem areas where direct planning interventions may be required, where municipal planning policies may need revision or more aggressive implementation, or where new policies may be necessary in order to increase the viability of public transit commuting.

This thesis is an experimental investigation on the binding of self-assembling peptides to oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) and the characterization of the resulting peptide-ODN complexes/aggregates, the first key step in the development of a peptide-based gene delivery system. Effects of pH, charge distribution along the peptide backbone, and oligonucleotide sequences on the peptide-ODN binding were investigated by a series of physicochemical methods. UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence anisotropy experiments demonstrate that aggregates are formed after mixing the peptide and ODN in aqueous solution. The aggregates in solution can be centrifuged out. Based on this property, the fraction of ODNs incorporated in the peptide-ODN aggregates can be obtained by comparing the UV-Vis absorption of the solution before and after centrifugation. Binding isotherms are generated by a binding density function analysis of the UV absorbance results. The binding parameters are extracted from the analysis of the binding isotherms based on the McGhee and von Hippel model. Equilibrium binding parameter studies show that the binding of two self-assembling peptides, EAK16-II and EAK 16-IV, to model single and double-stranded ODNs at pH 4 is stronger than at pH 7, and that no binding occurs at pH 11. These results demonstrate that electrostatic interactions play an important role in the EAK-ODN binding because EAKs are more positively charged at low pH. EAKs bind more strongly to dG16 than to the other ODN sequences dC16 and dGC16. This demonstrates that the hydrogen bond might be involved because they promote the binding of the lysine residues of the peptide to dG16 to a greater extent than to dC16. The charge distribution along the peptides is found to have an effect on the binding. EAK16-IV, whose positively charged residues are clustered at one end of the peptide, binds to the ODNs more strongly than EAK16-II, whose positively charged residues are distributed throughout the peptide chain, at the same pH. The binding process of EAKs to the ODNs was investigated by fluorescence anisotropy and static light scattering experiments. The results show that individual EAK and ODN molecules complex first, followed by the aggregation of these complexes into large aggregates. The nature of the resulting peptide-ODN complexes/aggregates is examined by UV-Vis absorption, fluorescence anisotropy, and PAGE experiments. The results demonstrate that free EAK, free ODNs, and small EAK-ODN complexes, which can not be centrifuged out, exist in the supernatant, and that large aggregates are collected in the pellets after centrifugation of the solution. The size of the resulting EAK-ODN complexes/aggregates measured by AFM and DLS is around a few hundreds of nanometers at low EAK concentrations. The accessibility of the ODNs to the quencher in the solution is reduced by 40 % and 60 % after binding to EAK16-II and EAK16-IV, respectively, as determined by fluorescence quenching experiments on EAK-ODN mixture solutions. An ODN protection from Exonuclease 1 degradation is provided by the EAK16-II or EAK16-IV matrix when they are mixed with the ODNs at pH 4. However, the ODNs are protected to a much lower degree when the EAK-ODN aggregates are prepared at pH 7. The EAK-ODN aggregates prepared at pH 7 are found to dissociate more easily than those prepared at pH 4 when they are incubated with exonuclease I solution at pH 9.5. These results suggest that the ODN protection afforded by the EAK-ODN aggregates is correlated with their structural stability after being incubated with the nuclease solution. The stability of the EAK-ODN aggregates after dilution is determined by UV-Vis absorption. No detectable dissociation of the aggregates is observed over 20 hrs after a 5- and 10-fold dilution of the solution in the same buffer used for their preparation. The EAK-ODN aggregates remain stable after the solutions are centrifuged, and re-dissolved in fresh buffer solutions. The ability of an EAK matix to protect ODNs from nuclease degradation together with its biocompatibility and low-toxicity suggests that EAK self-assembling peptides could be used as carriers for gene delivery.

Approximately one out of every seven Canadians over the age of 15 years (3.4 million people) has some level of disability. The increasing prevalence of disability in our aging society is commonly accepted as fact with both disability and the severity of disability gradually increasing with age (Statistics Canada, 2001). Recognizing that persons with disabilities often face "barriers" to full participation in society, some provinces have enacted human rights or accessibility planning legislation to remove these barriers. This study examines the process of accessibility planning for persons with disabilities within Canadian municipalities with a population of between 50,000 –500,000, otherwise referred to as mid-size cities (MSC). The underlying assumption of this research is that mid-size Canadian municipalities are carrying out some form of accessibility planning using planning instruments [or other tools] to remove barriers and improve accessibility for persons with disabilities. The purpose of this study is to determine: first, what planning instruments are being used in the design of open space and built environments in MSCs to remove physical barriers, and what other tools are available to attain greater accessibility for persons with disabilities living in mid-size urban settings. Secondly, to consider who is involved in the implementation and use of planning instruments and other tools, and to determine what are their respective roles. Third, to discover the conditions under which planning instruments and other tools are being applied, to learn what financial or other resources are being allocated and how are they being allocated in the short and long term. This study concludes that planning instruments are being used to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities in mid-size Canadian municipalities. Planning tools are not the only way to remove barriers to persons with disabilities. Furthermore, the effectiveness of those tools is clearly contingent upon available human and financial resources. Nevertheless, the study finds that municipal planners and others are using these essential planning tools in a variety of ways to remove physical barriers to accessibility. Inherent in all efforts to remove barriers is the active involvement of persons with disabilities. Thus, involving persons with disabilities in the development and application of planning instruments and other tools has the potential to build the foundation of successful accessibility planning efforts in Canadian mid-size communities. These conclusions have implications for research in the area of accessibility planning and recommendations for Canadian planning practice.

The Web has opened up many possibilities for disabled people to interact with society, but there is unfortunately a lack of parity between the user interface presented to different users. This dissertation presents a proof of concept on designing a spatial layout presentation for blind users using a screen reader. This is done in three steps by first conducting a survey to determine current practices of web developers, then implementing an instant spatial feedback and comparison function that present the spatial layout, and ends with an evaluation of the spatial layout presentation by the way of user testing The survey yielded a set of guidelines for the realistic development of web technologies for disabled persons based on the participants answered. From the implementation a concept for spatial feedback functions that are portable and expandable is presented. The evaluation shows that the created spatial presentation method passes both objectively and subjectively.

The aim of this thesis is to develop an technical aid (software) to help people with colourblindness. Colour blind people have difficulties to differentiate between certain colours,so the implemented software will name a selected colour. The software is implementedas a Mozilla Firefox extension and also uses a XPCOM component. Furthermore canthe user select different colour databases and change the displaying properties.The aim of this thesis is to develop an technical aid (software) to help people with colourblindness. Colour blind people have difficulties to differentiate between certain colours,so the implemented software will name a selected colour. The software is implementedas a Mozilla Firefox extension and also uses a XPCOM component. Furthermore canthe user select different colour databases and change the displaying properties.

This thesis aims to increase understanding and knowledge of issues affecting the redevelopment of older office buildings to housing. The rising demand for housing in recent years has resulted in a need and an increase in cost housing projects. The need has led property owners wanting to build old office buildings to apartments. The case study is carried out in Lycksele town and in close contact with consultancy TM (Technician Mercantile) – consulting, which has operations in the area. Rebuilding usually involves a combination of old and new ideas to satisfy a need. This is a broad topic within building design where the physical building characteristics are of important. This work investigates ways to rebuild and modernize a house from the 1950s with regard to: accessibility, noise, fire and energy. The methodology used in the work consists of scientific literature and a case study that includes interviews and sketch work of an office building in Lycksele. These methods are used to answer to questions that are generally asked and may be used for other office buildings being converted into housing. In the case study are different options presented with possible solutions to the redevelopment of the property Mobacka 2 to residential. The property Mobacka 2 has a character and design typical which are typical of the 1950s, giving the understanding and knowledge of the issues arising from the conversion of older office building to apartment building. It's a big project to convert a former office building into flats and there is much to think about in a reconstruction project, the conclusions of the report is to Internal accessibility of each plan can be managed. Accessibility to the second floor get as a consequence more difficult to handle in terms of placement of the elevator. Technical changes needed to meet today´s building requirements for sound; fire and energy require complementation on the inside and outside of the construction. Complementation for noise, remedy and results are difficult to judge.                   Keywords Fire, energy, noise, refurbishment, accessibility / Detta examensarbete syftar till att öka förståelsen och kunskapen kring frågor som har betydelse vid ombyggnation av äldre kontorsfastigheter till bostäder. Den stigande efterfrågan på bostäder har under de senaste åren resulterat i ett behov och en ökning av kostnadseffektiva bostadsprojekt. Behovet har lett till att fastighetsägare vill bygga om gamla kontorshus till flerbostadshus. Fallstudien i Lycksele genomfördes i nära kontakt med konsultföretaget TM (Teknisk Merkantil)- Konsult, vilka har verksamhet på orten. Ombyggnation innebär vanligtvis en kombination av gamla och nya idéer för att tillfredsställa ett behov och är ett brett ämne inom byggnadsutformning där de fysiska byggnadsegenskaperna är betydelsefulla. Det här arbetet utreder olika möjligheter att bygga om och modernisera hus från 1950-talet med hänsyn till tillgänglighet, ljud, brand och energi. Tillämpade metoder i arbetet utgörs av vetenskapliga litteraturstudier samt en fallstudie som innehåller intervjuer och skissarbete på en kontorsbyggnad i Lycksele. Metoderna används för att svara på frågeställningar som är generellt ställda och kan användas vid andra kontorsfastigheter som byggs om till bostäder. I fallstudien tas olika alternativ fram med möjliga lösningar till ombyggnation av fastigheten Mobacka 2 till bostadshus. Fastigheten Mobacka 2 har en karaktär och konstruktion som är tidstypisk för 1950-talet vilket ger förståelse och kunskap om de frågor som uppstår vid ombyggnad av äldre kontorsfastighet till flerbostadshus. Det är ett stort projekt att omvandla en f.d. kontorsbyggnad till flerbostadshus och det finns mycket att tänka på vid en ombyggnation, slutsatserna av rapporten är att: Den inre tillgängligheten på respektive plan kan hanteras. Tillgänglighet till andra plan får som konsekvens mer svårhanterade åtgärder beträffande hissars placering. De tekniska förändringar, som behövs för att tillgodose dagens krav för ljud, brand och energi kräver kompletteringar i och på konstruktionen. Vid kompletteringar för ljud är åtgärder och resultat svårbedömbara.   Nyckelord Brand, energi, ljud, ombyggnation, tillgänglighet,

Approximately one out of every seven Canadians over the age of 15 years (3.4 million people) has some level of disability. The increasing prevalence of disability in our aging society is commonly accepted as fact with both disability and the severity of disability gradually increasing with age (Statistics Canada, 2001). Recognizing that persons with disabilities often face "barriers" to full participation in society, some provinces have enacted human rights or accessibility planning legislation to remove these barriers. This study examines the process of accessibility planning for persons with disabilities within Canadian municipalities with a population of between 50,000 –500,000, otherwise referred to as mid-size cities (MSC). The underlying assumption of this research is that mid-size Canadian municipalities are carrying out some form of accessibility planning using planning instruments [or other tools] to remove barriers and improve accessibility for persons with disabilities. The purpose of this study is to determine: first, what planning instruments are being used in the design of open space and built environments in MSCs to remove physical barriers, and what other tools are available to attain greater accessibility for persons with disabilities living in mid-size urban settings. Secondly, to consider who is involved in the implementation and use of planning instruments and other tools, and to determine what are their respective roles. Third, to discover the conditions under which planning instruments and other tools are being applied, to learn what financial or other resources are being allocated and how are they being allocated in the short and long term. This study concludes that planning instruments are being used to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities in mid-size Canadian municipalities. Planning tools are not the only way to remove barriers to persons with disabilities. Furthermore, the effectiveness of those tools is clearly contingent upon available human and financial resources. Nevertheless, the study finds that municipal planners and others are using these essential planning tools in a variety of ways to remove physical barriers to accessibility. Inherent in all efforts to remove barriers is the active involvement of persons with disabilities. Thus, involving persons with disabilities in the development and application of planning instruments and other tools has the potential to build the foundation of successful accessibility planning efforts in Canadian mid-size communities. These conclusions have implications for research in the area of accessibility planning and recommendations for Canadian planning practice.

The study proposes an application of Talens (2003) methodological framework for assessing neighbourhood-level (i.e., non-motorised mode) accessibility, and offers recommendations for improving non-motorized transportation (NMT) accessibility to enhance multimodal integration between bicycles and buses in contemporary North American suburban neighbourhoods. Accessibility (or access) is defined as the average travel time or distance between a given origin and destination along the shortest available street network route. The study considers characteristics of the transportation network such as available route directness, facilities, and transit service provision to determine their impacts on bicycle access. A further methodology for comparing bicycle versus bus modal efficiencies within suburban contexts is developed and applied to the case study. A review of approaches designed to promote bicycling while discouraging personal automobile use provides a toolbox of proven treatments that are applied to a case study of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan a city of approximately 200,000 people. The approach provides a process that can be used by city or transit planners to identify neighbourhoods that lack sufficient access and apply treatments that improve bicycle accessibility and bicycle-transit integration. Results suggest existing potential for the bicycle as an access mode within contemporary suburban neighbourhood transportation networks. The case study supports the notion that suburban bicycle-bus integration could be used as a viable alternative to automobiles for daily home-to-node activity trips, and raises questions about the current allocation of public transit service to suburban routes within the context of the case study. Discussion and conclusions suggest directions for future research in this field of sustainable urban transportation planning.