The impact of energy performance certificates on the rental and capital values of commercial property assets: some preliminary evidence from the UK

This paper focuses on the effect of energy performance ratings on the capital values, rental values and equivalent yields of UK commercial property assets. Of which a small number are also BREEAM rated, the study is based upon 708 commercial property assets held in the IPD UK Universe drawn from across all PAS segments. Incorporating a range of controls such as unexpired lease term, vacancy rate and tenant credit risk, hedonic regression procedures are used to estimate the effect of EPC rating. The study finds no evidence of a strong relationship between environmental and/or energy performance and rental and capital value. Bearing in mind the small number of BREEAM rated assets, there was a small but statistically significant effect on equivalent yield only. Similarly, there was no evidence that the EPC rating had any effect on Market Rent or Market Value with only minor effects of EPC ratings on equivalent yields. The preliminary conclusion is that energy labelling is not yet having the effects on Market Values and Market Rents that provide incentives for market participants to improve the energy efficiency of their commercial real estate assets

Strategies for Building High Performance Work Teams in Public Sector Organisations in Nigeria

The study focuses on Strategies for building High Performance Work Teams in public sector organizations. The objectives of the study are; to identify the strategies for building high performance work teams in public sector organizations, to ascertain the extent to which public sector organizations make use of team work in achieving their goals and to identify the relationship between team work and organisational performance in public sector organisations. The methodology adopted for this study was the survey research design. Primary and secondary sources of data were used. Findings reveal that the major strategies for building high performance work teams in public sector organizations are to save costs and increase commitment of the work force, work teams have always been used in public sector organizations and their exist a positive relationship between teamwork and organisational performance in public sector organisations in Nigeria. Based on the findings, the work recommends that; Human Resource managers in public sector organizations should be encouraged to undergo constant training and development programs to help them acquire innovative skills. Furthermore, team work should be encouraged in public sector organizations; this will help them to achieve their goals, because decision-making and problem-solving is better handled by teams. Also, public sector organizations are advised to create a receptive organizational environment for work groups and teams to function effectively. Hence it is widely held that organizations that adopt High Performance Work Team practices out-perform others that do not. Keywords: Work teams, Public Sector Organizations, High Performance Work Syste

Ability to Cope with the Challenges of Teamwork in Managing Change in Selected Manufacturing Organizations in South Eastern Nigeria

This study on ability to cope with the challenges of teamwork in managing change in selected manufacturing organization in South Eastern Nigeria focuses on establishing the extent to which management of organizational change is hindered by inability to cope with the challenges of teamwork approach to change management. The study adopted the survey research design, using ten (10) manufacturing organizations in the South-Eastern Nigeria. The population was 13,623 and the sample size was 598 using stratified sampling method. A questionnaire and oral interview were the research instruments used for the study.  Data collected were presented descriptively using tables and means, and hypotheses were tested using Z-test statistic. The findings were that management of organizational change is severely hindered by inability to cope with the challenges of teamwork in Nigerian manufacturing organizations (Zcal = 4.55 > Zcritical = 1.96, p < 0.05). In conclusion, the implementation of teamwork in manufacturing organizations has a lot of challenges it faces from the results of this analysis. It is not a smooth sail for its utilization, but with effective communication, employee involvement, and staff training and development, these challenges can be mitigated thereby ensuring successful utilization of teamwork in managing change in manufacturing organization in south Eastern Nigeria. Based on the results and conclusions the study recommended among others that; people affected by change should be incorporated into the change programme; this involves the change agents empowering their subordinates to action by removing obstacles, enabling constructive feedback and rewarding and recognizing progress and achievements, that team leaders should be able to protect their team members through using proper means of communication to enlighten them about the changes in the organization, encourage them to think critically and ask questions as a part of the process and that members with requisite skill should be selected as members of the team; this will reduce the incidence of social loafing. Keywords: Challenges of Teamwork, change management, manufacturing organizations

Managing the Challenges of Women and Youth Empowerment Programmes in Nigeria

This paper on managing the challenges of women and youth empowerment programmes in Nigeria has the following objectives to determine the challenges facing women and youth empowerment programmes in Nigeria and to determine the prospects for youth and women empowerment in Nigeria Mostly secondary data were used in the study Findings reveal that there are so many challenges working against youth and women empowerment in Nigeria namely instability in government policies failed health facilities unplanned strikes Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen menace kidnapping lack of necessary infrastructure and so on Prospects for women and youth empowerment include but not limited to reduction in the rate of unemployment stability in government policies installation of effective efficient and result oriented economic team profitable negotiation land use law reforms improvement in the provision of quality and well-equipped health facilities and basic infrastructur

SUSTAINING PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING AMONGST MARRIED CAREER WOMEN: PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS, SOCIAL SUPPORT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND FAMILY CONFLICT RESOLUTION AS INFLUENCERS

The current paper aims to examine the influencing factors in sustaining psychological wellbeing amongst married career women in Ibadan, Nigeria. Hence, this paper plans to propose ways of increasing and sustaining psychological wellbeing amongst married career women in Ibadan, Nigeria. The paper espoused a quantitative research approach based on a survey research design. The results showed that psychological distress, social support, domestic violence, and family conflict resolution significantly jointly and independently influence the sustenance of psychological wellbeing amongst married career women in Ibadan, Nigeria. The results show that family conflict resolution is a noteworthy moderator of the negative influence of psychological distress and domestic violence in sustaining psychological wellbeing amongst married career women in Ibadan, Nigeria. Besides, the outcomes indicate that religion significantly influences psychological wellbeing amongst married career women in Ibadan, Nigeria. Therefore, developmental psychologists, organizational managers, human resources practitioners, counselors, and religious organizations should encourage ways of reducing psychological distress, by increasing social support, reducing domestic violence, and achieving consistent conflict resolution within families, as a way to sustain psychological wellbeing amongst married career women in Nigeria. Thus, this paper has recognized psychological distress, social support, domestic violence, family conflict resolution, and demographic factors (for instance, religion) as significant influencers in sustaining psychological wellbeing amongst married career women in Ibadan, Nigeria

SUSTAINING PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING AMONGST MARRIED CAREER WOMEN: PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS, SOCIAL SUPPORT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND FAMILY CONFLICT RESOLUTION AS INFLUENCERS

The current paper aims to examine the influencing factors in sustaining psychological wellbeing amongst married career women in Ibadan, Nigeria. Hence, this paper plans to propose ways of increasing and sustaining psychological wellbeing amongst married career women in Ibadan, Nigeria. The paper espoused a quantitative research approach based on a survey research design. The results showed that psychological distress, social support, domestic violence, and family conflict resolution significantly jointly and independently influence the sustenance of psychological wellbeing amongst married career women in Ibadan, Nigeria. The results show that family conflict resolution is a noteworthy moderator of the negative influence of psychological distress and domestic violence in sustaining psychological wellbeing amongst married career women in Ibadan, Nigeria. Besides, the outcomes indicate that religion significantly influences psychological wellbeing amongst married career women in Ibadan, Nigeria. Therefore, developmental psychologists, organizational managers, human resources practitioners, counselors, and religious organizations should encourage ways of reducing psychological distress, by increasing social support, reducing domestic violence, and achieving consistent conflict resolution within families, as a way to sustain psychological wellbeing amongst married career women in Nigeria. Thus, this paper has recognized psychological distress, social support, domestic violence, family conflict resolution, and demographic factors (for instance, religion) as significant influencers in sustaining psychological wellbeing amongst married career women in Ibadan, Nigeria

A single-chain variable fragment intrabody prevents intracellular polymerization of Z α1-antitrypsin while allowing its antiproteinase activity.

Mutant Z α1-antitrypsin (E342K) accumulates as polymers within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of hepatocytes predisposing to liver disease, whereas low levels of circulating Z α1-antitrypsin lead to emphysema by loss of inhibition of neutrophil elastase. The ideal therapy should prevent polymer formation while preserving inhibitory activity. Here we used mAb technology to identify interactors with Z α1-antitrypsin that comply with both requirements. We report the generation of an mAb (4B12) that blocked α1-antitrypsin polymerization in vitro at a 1:1 molar ratio, causing a small increase of the stoichiometry of inhibition for neutrophil elastase. A single-chain variable fragment (scFv) intrabody was generated based on the sequence of mAb4B12. The expression of scFv4B12 within the ER (scFv4B12KDEL) and along the secretory pathway (scFv4B12) reduced the intracellular polymerization of Z α1-antitrypsin by 60%. The scFv4B12 intrabody also increased the secretion of Z α1-antitrypsin that retained inhibitory activity against neutrophil elastase. MAb4B12 recognized a discontinuous epitope probably located in the region of helices A/C/G/H/I and seems to act by altering protein dynamics rather than binding preferentially to the native state. This novel approach could reveal new target sites for small-molecule intervention that may block the transition to aberrant polymers without compromising the inhibitory activity of Z α1-antitrypsin

Characterisation of serpin polymers in vitro and in vivo

Neuroserpin is a member of the serine protease inhibitor or serpin superfamily of proteins. It is secreted by neurones and plays an important role in the regulation of tissue plasminogen activator at the synapse. Point mutations in the neuroserpin gene cause the autosomal dominant dementia familial encephalopathy with neuroserpin inclusion bodies or FENIB. This is one of a group of disorders caused by mutations in the serpins that are collectively known as the serpinopathies. Others include alpha(1)-antitrypsin deficiency and deficiency of C1 inhibitor, antithrombin and alpha(1)-antichymotrypsin. The serpinopathies are characterised by delays in protein folding and the retention of ordered polymers of the mutant serpin within the cell of synthesis. The clinical phenotype results from either a toxic gain of function from the inclusions or a loss of function, as there is insufficient protease inhibitor to regulate important proteolytic cascades. We describe here the methods required to characterise the polymerisation of neuroserpin and draw parallels with the polymerisation of alpha(1)-antitrypsin. It is important to recognise that the conditions in which experiments are performed will have a major effect on the findings. For example, incubation of monomeric serpins with guanidine or urea will produce polymers that are not found in vivo. The characterisation of the pathological polymers requires heating of the folded protein or alternatively the assessment of ordered polymers from cell and animal models of disease or from the tissues of humans who carry the mutation. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

The pathological Trento variant of alpha-1-antitrypsin (E75V) shows non-classical behaviour during polymerization

Severe alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is most frequently associated with the alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) Z variant (E342K). ZZ homozygotes exhibit accumulation of AAT as polymers in the endoplasmic reticulum of hepatocytes. This protein deposition can lead to liver disease, with the resulting low circulating levels of AAT predisposing to early-onset emphysema due to dysregulation of elastinolytic activity in the lungs. An increasing number of rare AAT alleles have been identified in patients with severe AATD, typically in combination with the Z allele. Here we report a new mutation (E75V) in a patient with severe plasma deficiency, which we designate Trento. In contrast to the Z mutant, Trento AAT was secreted efficiently when expressed in cellular models but showed compromised conformational stability. PAGE and ELISA-based analyses of the secreted protein revealed the presence of oligomeric species with electrophoretic and immunorecognition profiles different from those of Z and S (E264V) AAT polymers, including reduced recognition by conformational monoclonal antibodies 2C1 and 4B12. This altered recognition was not due to direct effects on the epitope of the 2C1 monoclonal antibody which we localised between helices E and F. Structural analyses indicate the likely basis for polymer formation is the loss of a highly conserved stabilising interaction between helix C and the post-helix I loop. These results highlight this region as important for maintaining native state stability and, when compromised, results in the formation of pathological polymers that are different from those produced by Z and S AAT. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Reactive centre loop mutants of α-1-antitrypsin reveal position-specific effects on intermediate formation along the polymerization pathway

The common severe Z mutation (E342K) of α1-antitrypsin forms intracellular polymers that are associated with liver cirrhosis. The native fold of this protein is well-established and models have been proposed from crystallographic and biophysical data for the stable inter-molecular configuration that terminates the polymerization pathway. Despite these molecular 'snapshots', the details of the transition between monomer and polymer remain only partially understood. We surveyed the RCL (reactive centre loop) of α1-antitrypsin to identify sites important for progression, through intermediate states, to polymer. Mutations at P14P12 and P4, but not P10P8 or P2P1', resulted in a decrease in detectable polymer in a cell model that recapitulates the intracellular polymerization of the Z variant, consistent with polymerization from a near-native conformation. We have developed a FRET (Förster resonance energy transfer)-based assay to monitor polymerization in small sample volumes. An in vitro assessment revealed the position-specific effects on the unimolecular and multimolecular phases of polymerization: the P14P12 region self-inserts early during activation, while the interaction between P6P4 and β-sheet A presents a kinetic barrier late in the polymerization pathway. Correspondingly, mutations at P6P4, but not P14P12, yield an increase in the overall apparent activation energy of association from ~360 to 550 kJ mol-1