Diffusion tensor imaging is associated with motor outcomes of very preterm born children at 11 years of age

Aim Very preterm children born Methods A cohort of 37 very preterm infants (mean gestational age 29 4/7, SD 2 0/7) born in 2004-2006 in Turku University Hospital underwent diffusion tensor imaging at term. A region of interest analysis of fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity was performed. Motor outcomes at 11 years of age were measured with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children - Second Edition. Results The diffusion metrics of the corpus callosum (genu P = .005, splenium P = .049), the left corona radiata (P = .035) and the right optic radiation (P = .017) were related to later motor performance. Mean diffusivity decreased and fractional anisotropy increased in proportion to the improving performance. Conclusion The diffusion metrics of the genu and splenium of the corpus callosum, the left corona radiata and the right optic radiation at term were associated with motor skills at 11 years of age. Diffusion tensor imaging should be further studied as a potential tool in recognising children at risk for motor impairment.</div

Ympäristösuorituskyvyn ja asiakasarvon parantaminen liikerakennuksissa vihreiden kiinteistöpalveluiden avulla

The built environment has been recognized as a major contributor to many severe environmental impacts. In particular, the sector's share of the total energy consumption and the resulting GHG emissions is ca. 40% in the developed countries. The majority of these impacts are generated during the operational phase of existing buildings, which highlights the building sector's responsibility to address the issue. The focus of this thesis is on green property services. The term refers to operational real estate services aimed at both property owner and occupant, and that are aimed at improving environmental performance of the property. Customer value has a special emphasis in the thesis in order to understand the value of green property services for the customer, whether the owner or the occupant of the property. The aim of this research is to evaluate green property services' ability to enhance building environmental performance, while at the same time creating customer value. The thesis has two main research questions to investigate the issue. The primary focus of study is on green property services' ability to improve the environmental performance of commercial properties. Secondly, the focus is set on how the customers value green property services. These two research dimensions are studied at two property services scopes. First scope is an extensive property services setting. Second scope focuses on one specific service, energy management, which is chosen to be analysed more thoroughly due to its recognized significance to the environmental performance of buildings. The research is conducted utilizing a mixed method approach, with concurrent embedded strategy and sequential explanatory strategy as research design. Three cases of Finnish commercial properties were studied. The data were collected using multiple methods, both qualitative and quantitative, such as interviews, written documents and numeric data as embedded units of analysis. Based on the research it can be stated that green property services do have a positive effect on environmental performance of buildings, and they can create value for the customer both on an extensive services setting (green property services concept) and on a narrower, service specific setting (energy management). It is suggested that a green property services concept would be a viable option for building owners and tenants to improve their environmental performance, especially when they do not have the necessary resources or expertise in-house.Rakennetun ympäristön osuus kokonaisenergiankulutuksesta ja siitä aiheutuvista kasvihuonekaasupäästöistä on noin 40 % kehittyneissä maissa. Suurin osa näistä ympäristövaikutuksista aiheutuu rakennusten käyttövaiheen aikana. Täten kiinteistö- ja rakennusalan toimijoilla on suuri vastuu puuttua asiaan. Tämä väitöskirjatutkimus keskittyy vihreisiin kiinteistöpalveluihin. Termillä tarkoitetaan operatiivisia kiinteistöpalveluja, jotka on suunnattu kiinteistön omistajille ja käyttäjille ja jotka tähtäävät kiinteistön ympäristösuorituskyvyn parantamiseen. Asiakasarvolla on erityinen paino tutkimuksessa, jotta ymmärretään vihreiden kiinteistöpalvelujen arvo asiakkaalle, sekä omistajalle että käyttäjille. Tämän väitöskirjatutkimuksen tavoitteena on arvioida vihreiden kiinteistöpalvelujen kykyä parantaa liikerakennusten ympäristösuorituskykyä, ja samanaikaisesti tuottaa asiakasarvoa. Tutkimuksessa on käytetty apuna kahta tutkimuskysymystä. Ensimmäinen tutkimuskysymys tarkastelee vihreiden kiinteistöpalvelujen kykyä parantaa liikerakennusten ympäristösuorituskykyä. Toinen tutkimuskysymys pyrkii selvittämään mikä on vihreiden kiinteistöpalvelujen arvo asiakkaalle. Näitä kahta näkökulmaa tarkastellaan kahden kiinteistöpalvelukokonaisuuden avulla. Ensin tarkastellaan laajaa kiinteistöpalvelukokonaisuutta ja seuraavaksi tiettyä kiinteistöpalvelua eli energiajohtamista. Tutkimuksessa on hyödynnetty sekä laadullista että numeerista aineistoa. Laadullinen aineisto koostuu muun muassa haastatteluista ja kirjallisesta dokumentoinnista, numeerinen aineisto puolestaan kohdekiinteistöjen toteutuneesta, mitatusta energiankulutusdatasta sekä kyselytuloksista. Aineisto on kerätty kolmen tapaustutkimuksen avulla. Tutkimuksen perusteella voi esittää, että vihreät kiinteistöpalvelut voivat parantaa kiinteistöjen ympäristösuorituskykyä, ja ne voivat samalla tuottaa asiakasarvoa sekä laajalla kiinteistöpalvelukokonaisuudella, että kapealla, yksittäisellä kiinteistöpalvelulla. Tutkimuksessa ehdotetaan, että vihreä kiinteistöpalvelukonsepti voisi olla kannattava vaihtoehto kiinteistöjen ympäristösuorituskyvyn parantamiseksi sekä kiinteistönomistajille että – käyttäjille, erityisesti silloin kun heillä ei ole tarvittavia resursseja tai asiantuntemusta omassa organisaatiossaan

How Will Green Property Services Change the Game? A Futures Studies View

As the environmental impacts of buildings have become more and more eminent, so too has the demand and need for specialized green property services. Green property services refer to operative real estate management services, including both property and facility management, which promote environmental, or green, aspect of the services. This study sets out to identify the possible future development paths associated with the expected rise in the demand of green property services in the future facilities market. The research uniquely utilizes a futures studies method in the context of facilities management. The futures wheel is a qualitative method based on expert opinions, and resembles structural brainstorming. With the futures wheel, different future elements and their possible influences can be identified, clarified and organized. The study finds that several outcomes, both beneficial and unfavourable, are possible in a future where green property services have become more common. The outcomes are classified based on the power to impact, namely, whether they are reached though the actions of the property service provider, or the client organisation. The identified first tier influences include surprisingly complex issues such as lack of expertise in the client organization, or poor occupant comfort resulting from effective energy management. On the other hand, highly positive influences, including intelligent buildings and saved natural resources are also identified as potential influences. The study is the first to employ the futures wheel method to facility services research, and provides a good foundation for further testing of the methods. Furthermore, the findings are a welcomed reminder to both researchers and practitioners of the intertwined and complex nature of sustainability issues within the built environment