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As an economy approaches maturity, the relative importance of the construction sector would gradually decline. Without effective policies and strategies, the construction industry will suffer irreversably and this may trigger a knock-on effect to the overall economy. The experiences of selected advanced economies are examined, including Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and the UK in coping with structural changes in construction. Strategies employed by the government and the construction industry of these advanced economies to reinvent the construction industry were captured through an extensive literature review and a series of interviews with indigenous industry practitioners. In order to revitalize the construction industry, governments would accelerate publicly funded projects; provide financial support to ease the burden of industry stakeholders; and stimulate the market demand. In contrast, the industry would explore various market alternatives while companies would sharpen their competitive advantage locally and internationally through merger and acquisition. The identified strategies are corresponded to a construction industry development framework, which could therefore serve as a valuable reference for policy makers and practitioners to rejuvenate construction demand when a country approaches an urban service economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detailed histopathological study were performed and compared with clinical features in 120 children with serial renal biopsies who were found by school screening program. 41 cases (34.2%) of IgA nephropathy (IgAN), 26 cases (21.7%) of thin membrane disease (TMD) and 22 cases (18.3%) of normal glomeruli [( Normal]) accounted for 74.2% of all biopsies. 81 cases (67.5%) were revealed to be minor glomerular abnormalities by light microscopy and which contained 26 cases (32.1%) of TMD, 22 cases (27.2%) of [Normal] and 19 cases (23.4%) of IgAN. The frequency and the severity of proteinuria was significantly higher in IgAN than in TMD and [Normal] (P less than 0.01, P less than 0.05). Hematuria was significantly greater in [Normal] than in IgAN. In the 71 follow-up cases, no patient went to renal insufficiency, moreover, urinary abnormalities had disappeared in 25.4% of the patients including IgAN, TMD, [Normal], nonIgA proliferative glomerulonephritis, incomplete foot process disease and MPGN. [Normal] consisted of stationary or exercised urinary abnormality.