Corporate real estate analysis: evaluating telecom branch efficiency in Greece

This paper proposes productivity analysis for evaluating the relative efficiency in corporate real estate usage across decision-making units. Using data from the Greek Telecommunications Organization (GTO), we measure the productivity of 127 braches using the number of employees and the total area covered per building as inputs and the number of telephony access lines as outputs. We apply three non-parametric Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) models assuming: constant returns to scale (CRS), variable returns to scale (VRS) and slacks-based measures (SBM), respectively. We discuss how the proposed approach can provide real estate managers and analysts a multi informational tool that allows the quantification of targets and may serve as a guide tool for the efficient employment of real estate assets

Resistance exercise training during pregnancy and newborn's birth size: a randomised controlled trial

Objective: Design: Subjects: Results: Conclusion: We examined the effect of light intensity resistance exercise training performed during the second and third trimester of pregnancy on the newborn's birth size. We also studied the association between maternal body weight prior to pregnancy and newborn's birth size.Randomised controlled trial.We randomly assigned 160 sedentary gravidae to either a training (n=80) or a control (n=80) group. The training programme focused on light resistance and toning exercises (three times per week, 35-40 min per session). We recorded the Apgar score, birth weight, birth length, and head circumference of the newborn, as well as gestational age at time of delivery from hospital perinatal records. We also measured maternal weight and height before parity and gestational weight gain.Maternal characteristics neither differed between groups (all P>0.1) nor newborn characteristics (all P>0.1). Maternal body weight was positively and significantly associated with newborn's birth weight and length only in the control group (beta=19.20 and 0.065, respectively, P<0.01).Light intensity resistance training performed over the second and third trimester of pregnancy does not have a negative impact on the newborn's body size or overall health. Exercise interventions might attenuate the adverse consequences of maternal body weight before pregnancy on the newborn's birth size.4.343 JCR (2009) Q1, 23/105 Endocrinology & metabolism, 4/66 Nutrition & dieteticsUE