The Internationalization of Real Estate Research

The contributions of international researchers and institutions to real estate literature for the 1990 to 2006 period are assessed. Both the Asia-Pacific and European regions increase their influence on the top tier of real estate literature. The North American region, while still the dominant source of real estate research, sees its weighted share of publications in the top tier of academic real estate journals decline. Universities from Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and the Netherlands are leaders in their respective regions. Individual researchers domiciled outside of North America are also gaining influence, but few individuals rank high when compared to North American authors. It is anticipated that these trends will continue given the global growth in real estate as an asset class, the importance of real estate investment in countries posting substantial economic growth, and the allocation of resources and human capital within these growing regions to real estate research.

Experimental Analysis of Noise and Vibration for Large Brushless Doubly Fed Machines

In this study, a large-scale brushless doubly fed machine (BDFM) built in frame size D400 is tested at different operating conditionsin order to examine its noise and vibration levels. A series of measurements were conducted on the machine to establish the main modes ofexcitation of vibration and noise developed by the machine. The harmonic spectrums of the vibration amplitudes are presented at two differentrotor speeds at which the vibration level is highest, in order to determine the vibration components frequencies existed in the vibration spectrum.A harmonic analysis of the BDFM is then proposed in order to assess the sources of vibration in the machine

Impact of introducing electronic acute kidney injury alerts in primary care

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with decreased survival, future risk of chronic kidney disease and longer hospital stays. Electronic alerts (e-alerts) for AKI have been introduced in the UK in order to facilitate earlier detection and improve management. The aim of this study was to establish if e-alerts in primary care were acted on by examining timing of repeat creatinine testing.Methods: The National Health Service England Acute Kidney Injury electronic alert algorithm was introduced in April 2015 across both primary and secondary care in NHS Tayside accompanied by a programme of education. Data from a 12-month period (2012) predating introduction of the e-alerts were compared with a 12-month period following implementation of ealerts for AKI. Biochemistry testing following the AKI episode, timing of repeat tests and numbers of patients hospitalized within 7 days of episode were compared between the two time periods.Results: During the 12 months after e-alert introduction, 9781 AKI e-alerts were generated. Of these, 1460 (14.9%) alerts were generated in primary care. Median duration to repeat blood testing for these primary care alerts was 5 days for AKI Stage 1 [interquartile range (IQR) 2-10], 2 days for Stage 2 (IQR 1-5) and 1 day (IQR 0-2) for Stage 3. During 2012 (prior to e-alert implementation) 8812 AKI episodes were identified. Of these, 2650 tests (30.1%) were requested by primary care staff. Median duration to repeat creatinine testing was longer: 55 days (IQR 20-142) for Stage 1, 38 days (IQR 15-128) for Stage 2 was and 53 days (IQR 20-137) for Stage 3. More patients had biochemistry tests repeated within 7 days of AKI onset, pre-alert implementation; 252 (9.5%) versus 857 (58.7%) (P&lt;0.001). Rates of hospitalization within 7 days of AKI increased from 342 (12.9%) pre-implementation to 372 (25.5%) post-implementation (P&lt;0.001).Conclusions: Within primary care, e-alert implementation was associated with higher rates of creatinine monitoring, but also higher rates of hospitalization.</p

Contribution of non-canonical DNA G-quadruplex structures to premature ageing

Previous studies have identified Cockayne Syndrome B (CSB) as a helicase that can resolve non-canonical DNA structures, called G-quadruplexes (G4s). The aim of this study is to investigate the properties of CSB as a G4-binder and -resolvase, and examine the correlation between the G4-helicase activity of CSB and premature ageing phenotype observed in CSB-deficient cells. Accordingly, the recombinant CSB full-length protein (FL) and its helicase- “like" domain (HD) were respectively expressed from insect and bacterial cells, and their resolvase and binding activities were tested over a large panel of DNA substrates. Native gel analysis and biophysical characterisations revealed that ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences, that typically act as CSB substrate, can form intermolecular G4s. We discovered that intermolecular G4s were strongly bound by CSB with picomolar affinity, whilst negligible binding to intramolecular G4s was observed. In vitro and cellular data demonstrated that G4-ligands can compete with CSB for binding to intermolecular rDNA G4, which results in CSB being displaced off the nucleoli of cells upon treatment with G4-ligands. Immunostaining with the selective G4-antibody BG4 revealed a lack of BG4-staining in the nucleoli of CSB-deficient cells after exogenous expression of recombinant CSB, further corroborating the hypothesis that CSB can bind intermolecular rDNA G4s in the nucleoli and compete with BG4 for the binding of such DNA-substrate. The work presented in this thesis allowed us to observe that (I) intermolecular G4s are likely to form from long-range distant rDNA sequences within the nucleoli of cells, and (II) CSB specifically binds and resolves these structures. Our results provide the first evidence of an endogenous protein that specifically interacts with intermolecular G4s, suggesting potential biological significance of these structures. The biological relevance of intermolecular rDNA G4s could be key in rare genetic disorders like Cockayne Syndrome, where senescence and premature ageing is observed when CSB is functionally mutated.Open Acces

Priorities for Pig Research in Southeast Asia and the Pacific to 2010

Livestock Production/Industries, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Heterogeneity of helper/inducer T lymphocytes. II. Effects of interleukin 4- and interleukin 2-producing T cell clones on resting B lymphocytes.

To compare the helper function of murine T cell clones that secrete IL-2 and IFN-gamma (Th1 cells) or IL-4 and IL-5 (Th2), purified resting B cells were stimulated with F(ab')2 rabbit anti-mouse Ig (RAMG) and rabbit Ig-specific, class II MHC-restricted cloned T cells belonging to the two subsets. Both Th2 clones examined induced strong proliferative responses of B cells in the presence of RAMG, as well as the secretion of IgM and IgG1 antibodies. In contrast, the Th1 clones tested failed to stimulate B cell growth or antibody secretion. Th2-mediated B cell activation was dependent on IL-4 and IL-5, and was also inhibited by IFN-gamma or IFN-gamma produced by Th1 cells present in the same cultures. However, the failure of Th1 cells to help resting B cells could not be reversed with neutralizing anti-IFN-gamma antibody. In addition to this inhibitory effect, IFN-gamma was required for the secretion of IgG2a antibody, particularly when B cells were stimulated with polyclonal activators such as LPS. Finally, both sets of T cell clones secreted lymphokines when stimulated with purified B cells and RAMG. These experiments demonstrate that T cells that differ in lymphokine production also differ in their ability to help B cells as a result of cognate interactions at low concentrations of antigens. Moreover, IL-4, IL-5, and IFN-gamma serve different roles in the T cell-dependent proliferative and differentiative responses of resting B lymphocytes

Strong sustainability and the environmental dimension of the Sustainable Development Goals

Non-technical summary The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) are at the core of the development agenda. Despite their wide adoption, it is still unclear the extent to which they can provide insights on environmental sustainability. The paper presents an assessment of the potential of the indicators used in the SDGs to track environmental sustainability. The results show that only a few SDG indicators describe the state of the environment, and those that do so, do not, generally, have science-based targets that describe whether environmental sustainability conditions are met. The latter aspect should be reinforced in framework that will replace the SDGs after 2030. Technical summary The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) are at the core of the development agenda. Despite their wide adoption, it is still unclear whether they can be used to monitor environmental sustainability, if this is to be understood from a strong sustainability perspective. The paper presents an assessment of the adequacy of the indicator sets used by United Nations, Eurostat, OECD, and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network for strong sustainability monitoring. The results show that most environmental indicators do not have science-based environmental standards that reflect whether natural capital meets environmental sustainability conditions, thereby preventing their use as strong sustainability indicators. While meeting the SDGs would likely contribute to improving environmental performance, on their own they are not adequate to monitor progress toward it. Complementary scientifically grounded metrics are needed to track the underlying state of natural capital that provides non-substitutable functions. The strong sustainability dimension within the SDGs will need to be strengthened in post-2030 sustainable development monitoring framework. Social media summary The Sustainable Development Goals are insufficient to monitor environmental sustainability

The Apulian Territory and the Typical Local Farmhouses: A Case of Study Through Landscape Analysis

The Apulian territory is strongly characterized by a rural architectural heritage with many historical features. Rural and agro-industrial buildings, their reuse or degradation, are the testimony of a history whose investigation is complex and varied over time. The Regional Territorial Landscape Plan, which entered into force in 2015, promotes the realization of a self-sustainable and lasting socio-economic development and education for an appropriate use of the regional territory. The knowledge, conservation, use and promotion of the Traditional Apulian Architectural Heritage are among its aims. This in fact constitutes the memory of a place, culturally identifies a local community and the territory. In-depth knowledge of the identifying characteristics of the rural heritage is essential before any recovery intervention specifically aimed at protecting and enhancing the buildings, the landscape and the environmental context. A recovery activity, mindful of these issues, can generate strategic resources for reaching wider objectives of regional development. This study aims to analyze the current relationship between ancient Apulian farmhouses that have been subject to functional restoration interventions and the landscape in which they are located, in order to outline strategies for the development and promotion of the related rural area

The medieval pilgrims routes in the Apulian settlements and their relationship with Rome and Santiago de Compostela

The medieval pilgrims routes in the Apulian settlements and their relationship with Rome and Santiago de Compostela The Medieval cave settlements and cave churches in the Apulia region, in southern Itlay, created with their frescoes, along the pilgrims roads and the Ancient Appia route, a connection with the grave of Saint James in Santiago de Compostela. Indeed during the Middle Age the Church and the local nobles and feudatories used the Apulian medieval pilgrims’ routes for religious and marketing purposes linking Apulian Cave frescoes churches with Santiago de Compostela, therefore one of the aim of the research is to retrace the pilgrims routes basing on the images of the Saints painted in some frescoes and to create a veritable virtual link of the Apulian medieval cave churches with Saint James’ tomb in Santiago de Compostela thanks to the representation of the Saint bringing the pecten iacobeus (shell of St. James) and the Pilgrim’s bagshow. Aim of the research, applied to the proposed study area of the ravines and cave churches of Apulia, is to analyse, plan and restructure the ancient routes and livestock trail paths of the area by means of the files found in the archives in order to “redraw” the historical, social and environmental landscape and present it as paths with strong touristic interest with reference to the Apulian ravines area, the agricultural and forest landscapes and the traditional farmhouses