Understanding the adoption of voluntary environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards in the real estate sector

The environmental performance of the real estate sector has been subject to growing scrutiny in recent years, with the United Nations estimating that the sector accounts for a substantial share of global energy consumption and energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. In turn, environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors are becoming increasingly significant investment considerations for real estate investors. In this context, voluntary ESG standards are becoming central in promoting sustainable and responsible practices among real estate players, and in helping them to address global challenges. Thus, this report is of importance in three respects: first, we review the academic literature in relation to the drivers of organizational adoption of voluntary ESG standards; second, we analyse GRESB’s Real Estate Benchmark, the de facto industry standard for ESG activities in the real estate industry; and finally, we provide recommendations for industry professionals and future researchers interested in the adoption of voluntary ESG standards in the real estate industry

Allergic inflammation triggers dyslipidemia via IgG signalling

AbstractBackgroundAllergic diseases begin early in life and are often chronic, thus creating an inflammatory environment that may precede or exacerbate other pathologies. In this regard, allergy has been associated to metabolic disorders and with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, but the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood.MethodsWe used a murine model of allergy and atherosclerosis, different diets and sensitization methods, and cell‐depleting strategies to ascertain the contribution of acute and late phase inflammation to dyslipidemia. Untargeted lipidomic analyses were applied to define the lipid fingerprint of allergic inflammation at different phases of allergic pathology. Expression of genes related to lipid metabolism was assessed in liver and adipose tissue at different times post‐allergen challenge. Also, changes in serum triglycerides (TGs) were evaluated in a group of 59 patients ≥14 days after the onset of an allergic reaction.ResultsWe found that allergic inflammation induces a unique lipid signature that is characterized by increased serum TGs and changes in the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism in liver and adipose tissue. Alterations in blood TGs following an allergic reaction are independent of T‐cell‐driven late phase inflammation. On the contrary, the IgG‐mediated alternative pathway of anaphylaxis is sufficient to induce a TG increase and a unique lipid profile. Lastly, we demonstrated an increase in serum TGs in 59 patients after undergoing an allergic reaction.ConclusionOverall, this study reveals that IgG‐mediated allergic inflammation regulates lipid metabolism.</jats:sec

Risk of Ischemic Stroke Associated With Calcium Supplements With or Without Vitamin D: A Nested Case‐Control Study

Background There is controversy surrounding the risk of ischemic stroke associated with the use of calcium supplements either in monotherapy or in combination with vitamin D. Methods and Results A nested case‐control study was performed with patients aged 40 to 89 years old, among whom a total of 2690 patients had a first episode of nonfatal ischemic stroke and for which 19 538 controls were randomly selected from the source population and frequency‐matched with cases for age, sex, and calendar year. Logistic regression provided the odds ratios while adjusting for confounding factors. A sensitivity analysis was performed by restricting to patients who were new users of calcium supplements as either monotherapy or with vitamin D. Calcium supplementation with vitamin D was not associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke (odds ratio 0.85; 95% confidence interval, 0.67–1.08) in the population as a whole or under any of the conditions examined (dose, duration, background cardiovascular risk, sex, or age). Calcium supplement monotherapy was not associated with an increased risk in the population as a whole (odds ratio 1.18; 95% confidence interval, 0.86–1.61), although a significant increased risk at high doses (≥1000 mg/day: odds ratio 2.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.25–3.49; <1000 mg: odds ratio 0.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.45–1.26) compared with nonuse was observed. The sensitivity analysis did not affect the inferences, with similar results observed among new users as to the overall study population. Conclusions This study suggests that calcium supplements given as monotherapy at high doses may increase the risk of ischemic stroke, whereas their combination with vitamin D seems to offset this hazard

Do forensic psychiatric inpatient units pose a risk to local communities?

There has been rapid expansion of forensic psychiatric services in the United Kingdom over the last decade. This has been associated with concern from communities about the risk to which they are subjected by the presence of secure units in their local area. However, this assumption of risk is based on anecdotal or unrelated evidence. Our study aimed to determine the nature and level of risk posed by inpatients of medium secure units to their local communities in the south-east of England. Results showed that the contribution of these units to local crime figures included just one conviction for burglary over a five-year period. Other serious untoward incidents and their implications are discusse

Governing transitions: Cases and insights from two periods in the history of the UK gas industry

The paper aims to inform historically the analyses of future sociotechnical transition pathways in the electricity sector, particularly those developed by the Transition Pathways to a Low Carbon Economy project. It also aims to inform the theoretical approach to transitions by focusing on key decisions at &apos;branching points&apos; that led to transitions in the UK gas energy services regime, which occurred under different governance patterns. The first historical case study covers the market-led transformation of the manufactured gas regime from 1877 to 1914, which developed the end-uses of gas beyond lighting to include cooking, and extended access to working class consumers. The second case study covers the period from 1948 to 1977, historically reconstructing the transition from town gas to natural gas. This state-led and coordinated conversion to natural gas was preceded by a period of destabilisation of the manufactured gas regime, the co-existence of several niche technologies and the hybridisation of the key actors and technological infrastructures of the incumbent regime. Comparing the cases provides insights for future energy service transitions by addressing the significance of power, trust and networking in the decision making processes involved in the governance of energy transitions. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd

Cyclopropanation reactions for the synthesis of 2-azabieyclo[4.1.0]heptane derivatives with nitric oxide synthase inhibitory activity

Synthesis of new bicyclic structures containing cyclopro-panes, related to selective iNOS inhibitor ONO-1714, is described. We have evaluated the effect of the compounds obtained on the production of nitric oxide in lipopolysaccharide and inter-feron-gamma stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages and on in vitro iNOS activity assays. Copyright © 2008 The Chemical Society of Japan.Peer Reviewe

Identifying the Compounds of the Metabolic Elicitors of Pseudomonas fluorescens N 21.4 Responsible for Their Ability to Induce Plant Resistance

In this work, the metabolic elicitors extracted from the beneficial rhizobacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens N 21.4 were sequentially fragmented by vacuum liquid chromatography to isolate, purify and identify the compounds responsible for the extraordinary capacities of this strain to induce systemic resistance and to elicit secondary defensive metabolism in diverse plant species. To check if the fractions sequentially obtained were able to increase the synthesis of isoflavones and if, therefore, they still maintained the eliciting capacity of the live strain, rapid and controlled experiments were done with soybean seeds. The optimal action concentration of the fractions was established and all of them elicited isoflavone secondary metabolism—the fractions that had been extracted with n-hexane being more effective. The purest fraction was the one with the highest eliciting capacity and was also tested in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings to induce systemic resistance against the pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC 3000. This fraction was then analyzed by UHPLC/ESI–QTOF–MS, and an alkaloid, two amino lipids, three arylalkylamines and a terpenoid were tentatively identified. These identified compounds could be part of commercial plant inoculants of biological and sustainable origin to be applied in crops, due to their potential to enhance the plant immune response and since many of them have putative antibiotic and/or antifungal potential.</jats:p