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Does ESG implementation influence performance and risk in SMEs?
Full text linkThe relationship between Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) activities and financial performance has been explored within large companies. The presence of these activities in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is still in its early stages in the literature, requiring further empirical evidence. Given the importance of SMEs in economy and based on Stakeholder Theory, a set of hypotheses regarding the influence of ESG on financial and risk performance has been tested using a sample of 538 Spanish SMEs. Specifically, an index has been developed to assess ESG at both global and individual levels. The study analyses the impact of these variables on corporate performance, taking into account factors such as the pandemic period, level of disclosure and the size effect. The results demonstrate the importance of developing and index tailored to measuring ESG within this type of company, as the methodology employed can impact the outcomes. Moreover, at the individual level, all dimensions reflect a significant relationship, but the overall ESG score does not. The social and labor dimensions prove to be the most beneficial indices for enhancing resilience during periods of crisis. Finally, the findings confirm that it is more difficult for SMEs to monetize the results of ESG investment and that disclosing these activities has a positive impact. This study contributes to existing knowledge by constructing a robust measure of the level of ESG implementation and quality, providing valuable insights for SMEs on how to effectively manage their ESG activitiesAgencia Estatal de Investigación. Grant Number: PID2021-124336OB-I0
Xunta de Galicia. Grant Number: ED431C 2020/18S
Insights into the application of the anodic oxidation process for the removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water matrices
Full text linkThe current study aimed to investigate major knowledge gaps regarding the application of the anodic oxidation (AO) process with boron-doped diamond (BDD) anodes for the remediation of water matrices contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This included: (i) the degradation of ultrashort-chain (C1-C3) and long-chain (C9-C13) PFAS in addition to short- and medium-chain (C4-C8) PFAS, (ii) the application of multi-solute systems with different PFAS content (0.2 µg L−1 versus 2.0 µg L−1) and diversity (24 C1-C13 versus 8 C1-C8) in addition to single-solute systems, (iii) the use of real water matrices in addition to pure water, and (iv) the application of current densities (j) up to 250 mA cm−2 in addition to usual j (≤20 mA cm−2). C1-C4 PFAS with a sulfonated headgroup were the most recalcitrant compounds. By contrast, PFAS ≥ C9 with a sulfonated headgroup and PFAS ≥ C12 with a carboxylic headgroup were potentially instantaneously degraded. The content and diversity of PFAS mainly affected the degradation kinetics of PFEtS (C2), PFPrA (C3), and PFBA (C4). Four real water matrices were under focus: drinking water (DW), urban wastewater after secondary treatment (UWW), and nanofiltration concentrate (NF) and reverse osmosis concentrate (RO) from urban wastewater polishing step. PFAS degradation typically benefited from using real matrices primarily due to the presence of chloride ions and consequent electrogeneration of active chlorine species. However, for waters with a high organic content, namely a chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 319 mg O2 L−1, PFAS degradation was hindered. Furthermore, the removal of most PFAS benefited from the application of j > 20 mA cm−2, and some specific PFAS required the use of j ≥ 250 mA cm−2 to have maximized removal rates.This work was financially supported by (i) Xunta de Galicia (ED431C 2021/06), (ii) Agencia Estatal de Investigación MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (ref. PID2020-117686RB-C32, and TED2021-129200B-C41 (co)funded by the EU through NextGenerationEU/PRTR funds), (iii) national funds through Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)/MCTES (PIDDAC) – LSRE-LCM, UIDB/50020/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/UIDB/50020/2020) and UIDP/50020/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/UIDP/50020/2020), and ALiCE, LA/P/0045/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/LA/P/0045/2020), and (iv) EU and Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, Germany, Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca, Italy, Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Spain, FCT, Portugal, Norges forskningsråd, Norway, and Water Research Commission, South Africa for funding, in the frame of the collaborative international consortium SERPIC financed under the ERA-NET AquaticPollutants Joint Transnational Call (GA N° 869178). This ERA-NET is an integral part of the activities developed by the Water, Oceans, and AMR Joint Programming Initiatives. Francisca C. Moreira and Vítor J.P. Vilar acknowledge the FCT Individual Call to Scientific Employment Stimulus 2017 – CEECIND/02196/2017 (DOI: 10.54499/CEECIND/02196/2017/CP1399/CT0013) and CEECIND/01317/2017 (DOI: 10.54499/CEECIND/01317/2017/CP1399/CT0010), respectively. Carla S. Santos acknowledges her PhD scholarship funded by FCT (2022.10796.BD)S
Simple thermal treatment to improve the MRI and magnetic hyperthermia performance of hybrid iron Oxide-Mesoporous silica nanocarriers
Full text linkThe design of multifunctional nanocomposites (NCs), incorporating a variety of controllable properties from nanostructured materials, spans their applicability as nanotools in biomedical applications. Santa Barbara Amorphous (SBA-15) mesoporous silica has showcased remarkable capabilities, ranging from bone regeneration to drug delivery. Its synergy with magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) further broadens its scope as a theranostic agent, seamlessly integrating both therapeutic and diagnostic functions. However, efficiency issues arise due to MNP anchoring, necessitating novel solutions for optimization. This study focuses on enhancing the magnetic properties of hybrid iron oxide-SBA-15 mesoporous silica NCs through a simplified thermal procedure. The aim is to optimize their magnetic performance for dual functionality as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and as effective heaters in magnetic hyperthermia (MH) processes, while preserving the cylindrical mesoporous structure, high surface area, and high loading capacity compared to conventional ceramics. The investigation highlights that the impact of heat treatment on physicochemical properties varies depending on the compositions of the NCs. Specifically, the transversal relaxivity in MRI was doubled, accompanied by an enhanced Néel contribution in MH. This enhancement was achieved while maintaining the same biocompatibility as non-treated NCs, as demonstrated in evaluations with two cancer cell lines (HeLa and T-731 astrocytes), revealing low toxicity at concentrations up to 200 μg/mLThis work was supported by the European Commission under the BOW project (FETPROACT-EIC-05-2019, Grant 952183), CARTsol project (PLEC2022-009217 funded by MICINN/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and NextGenerationEU/ PRTR) and partially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (ref PID2020-112626RB-C21), Modalities «Research Challenges» and «Knowledge Generation» and the Regional Consellería de Innovación Program for the Grupos de Referencia Competitiva 2021 —GRC2021 project of Xunta de Galicia. Zulema Vargas gratefully acknowledges the financial support from the European Uniońs Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement No 739566. R. Iglesias-Rey (CP22/00061) from the Miguel Servet Program of Instituto de Salud Carlos III and Co-financed by the EU. P.T. also thanks Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) by project PID2019-109517RB-I00) and from Xunta de Galicia, project ED431C2022/18. European Regional Development Funds are also acknowledgedS
Impacto de la forestación de terrenos agrícolas sobre el carbono orgánico lábil y la actividad microbiana del suelo
Full text linkUno de los grandes retos que tiene la sociedad actual es cómo afrontar el cambio climático y
mitigar, en lo posible, los efectos que se estima que se producirán. En los años 90 del siglo
pasado (XX) un total de 84 países se adhirieron al Protocolo de Kioto. Si bien este protocolo ya
se ha visto superado por acuerdos posteriores, las normas que contiene son un instrumento de la
Convención Marco de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático (UNFCCC) para una
gestión ambiental que promueva el desarrollo sostenible, la reducción de las emisiones de gases
de efecto invernadero y la potenciación de actividades sumidero de estos gases.
Además del control en origen con la reducción de las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero,
entre las estrategias promovidas para la mitigación y adaptación al cambio climático, una de las
más importantes es favorecer y potenciar la consolidación de zonas forestales con una biomasa
vegetal permanente, inmovilizando el carbono, lo que, además de favorecer la lucha contra el
efecto invernadero y la absorción de dióxido de carbono, contribuiría a mejorar a largo plazo los
recursos forestales y a realizar una gestión del espacio natural más compatible con el medio
ambiente
Association between serum mineral levels and reproductive performance in primiparous dairy cows during the peripartum period
Full text linkTo the best of the authors' knowledge, no study has previously investigated whether
the concentration of minerals is related to reproductive outcomes in primiparous
cows. For this reason, two objectives were set in the present study: (i) to assess serum
mineral levels, macrominerals, and trace elements during the transition period (period
of high nutritional requirements) in primiparous cows, considering reproductive efficiency, and (ii) to address if the serum mineral levels of primiparous cows are related
to reproductive efficiency. Blood samples were taken (i) one month before calving,
(ii) one week before calving, (iii) one week postpartum, and (iv) one month postpartum. At the beginning and the end of the study, a body condition score (BCS) was assigned to each lactating cow with no clinical signs of disease. The difference between
one month before and one month after calving was the body condition loss (ΔBCS).
Optimal prepartum concentrations of K and Cl were associated with fewer days open
and a shorter interval calving. Furthermore, macrominerals in the serum decreased
immediately after calving (one week) but recovered at one month postpartum. In contrast, the highest concentration of trace elements was found at one week postpartum. Primiparous cows with higher postpartum Se, Mn, Co, and Mo concentrations
exhibited better reproductive efficiency, and the concentrations of trace elements in
serum were correlated with interval calving and the number of inseminations. Finally,
primiparous cows with a greater ΔBCS (at least one point) in period 4 exhibited both
a longer calving interval and a greater number of days open. In summary, this study
showed, for the first time in primiparous cows, that the concentration of some serum
minerals not only plays a crucial role during the transition period but is also related to
crucial reproductive parameters, such as interval calving and days open.S
La sedición de lo sensible. Arte y filosofía en el Lyotard de los años setenta
No full textLa presente tesis doctoral aborda la relación entre arte y
filosofía en la vida y en la obra de Jean-François Lyotard,
privilegiando el estudio de los años comprendidos entre 1968 y
1978. La hipótesis que aquí se defiende es que el
pensamiento de Lyotard está constitutivamente atravesado por
la influencia recibida del mundo de las artes, por lo que
para entenderlo es imprescindible considerar sus escritos sobre
arte como una parte fundamental de su corpus teórico.
En este sentido, la relevancia de los años setenta es grande,
pues no solo fue en esta década cuando comenzó a escribir
sobre arte y a relacionarse activamente con los artistas, sino
que este también puede considerarse como su período de
mayor transformación intelectual.2025-05-0
Hidrogeles biodegradables de polisacáridos para la liberación colónica de fármacos
Full text linkEsta tesis se centra en el diseño y evaluación de hidrogeles de
polisacáridos para la administración
colónica de fármacos. Estos hidrogeles tienen como objetivo
mejorar el tratamiento de
enfermedades colónicas como la colitis ulcerosa y la
enfermedad de Crohn. La investigación
aborda la preparación y caracterización de estos hidrogeles
basados en gomas naturales (xantana
y garrofina), evaluando su bioadhesión y capacidad de
liberación de fármacos como el acetónido
de triamcinolona y el ciprofloxacino. Además, explora el
impacto de las ciclodextrinas en las
propiedades de liberación de los hidrogeles y su eficacia en
modelos animales de colitis. Concluye
discutiendo los resultados y sugiriendo futuras direcciones de
investigación para el desarrollo de
hidrogeles inteligentes y nuevas aplicaciones terapéuticas
Inference of tobacco and alcohol consumption habits from DNA methylation analysis of blood
Full text linkDNA methylation has become a biomarker of great interest in the forensic and clinical fields. In criminal investigations, the study of this epigenetic marker has allowed the development of DNA intelligence tools providing information that can be useful for investigators, such as age prediction. Following a similar trend, when the origin of a sample in a criminal scenario is unknown, the inference of an individual’s lifestyle such as tobacco use and alcohol consumption could provide relevant information to help in the identification of DNA donors at the crime scene. At the same time, in the clinical domain, prediction of these trends of consumption could allow the identification of people at risk or better identification of the causes of different pathologies. In the present study, DNA methylation data from the UK AIRWAVE study was used to build two binomial logistic models for the inference of smoking and drinking status. A total of 348 individuals (116 non-smokers, 116 former smokers and 116 smokers) plus a total of 237 individuals (79 non-drinkers, 79 moderate drinkers and 79 drinkers) were used for development of tobacco and alcohol consumption prediction models, respectively. The tobacco prediction model was composed of two CpGs (cg05575921 in AHRR and cg01940273) and the alcohol prediction model three CpGs (cg06690548 in SLC7A11, cg0886875 and cg21294714 in MIR4435–2HG), providing correct classifications of 86.49% and 74.26%, respectively. Validation of the models was performed using leave-one-out cross-validation. Additionally, two independent testing sets were also assessed for tobacco and alcohol consumption. Considering that the consumption of these substances could underlie accelerated epigenetic ageing patterns, the effect of these lifestyles on the prediction of age was evaluated. To do that, a quantile regression model based on previous studies was generated, and the potential effect of tobacco and alcohol consumption with the epigenetic age was assessed. The Wilcoxon test was used to evaluate the residuals generated by the model and no significant differences were observed between the categories analyzedMVL is supported by the Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Ciencia, Spain (PID2019-107876RB-I00). MdlP is supported by a postdoctoral fellowship awarded by the Gobierno de España: IJC2020-042638-I, funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and the European Union "NextGenerationEU/PRTR". J.R. is supported by the “Programa de axudas á etapa predoutoral” funded by the Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria e da Consellería de Economía, Emprego e Industria from Xunta de Galicia, Spain (ED481A-2020/039). The Airwave Health Monitoring Study is funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC), (MR/R023484/1), the National Institute for Health Care Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit in Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards (NIHR-200922), the Imperial College Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) 2017–22, and the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. The initial phase of the study, including participant recruitment, was funded by the Home Office (780-TETRA; 2003-18). Views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the study sponsors. We thank all study participants for their involvement. DPUK provided data access for this project: Elliott, P. (2017). Airwave [Data set]. Dementias Platform UK. https://doi.org/10.48532/002000 through MRC grant ref MR/L023784/2″ (core funding)S
Magnetic-driven Interleukin-4 internalization promotes magnetic nanoparticle morphology and size-dependent macrophage polarization
Full text linkMacrophages are known to depict two major phenotypes: classically activated macrophages (M1), associated with high production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and alternatively activated macrophages (M2), which present an anti-inflammatory function. A precise control over M1-M2 polarization is a promising strategy in therapeutics to modulate both tissue regeneration and tumor progression processes. However, this is not a simple task as macrophages behave differently depending on the microenvironment. In agreement with this, non-consistent data have been reported regarding macrophages response to magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MNPs). To investigate the impact of both tissue microenvironment and MNPs properties on the obtained macrophage responses, single-core (SC) and multi core (MC) citrate coated MNPs, are synthesized and, afterwards, loaded with a macrophage polarization trigger, IL-4. The developed MNPs are then tested in macrophages subjected to different stimuli. We demonstrate that macrophages treated with low concentrations of MNPs behave differently depending on the polarization stage independently of the concentration of iron. Moreover, we find out that MNPs size and morphology determines the effect of the IL-4 loaded MNPs on M1 macrophages, since IL-4 loaded SC MNPs favor the polarization of M1 macrophages towards M2 phenotype, while IL-4 loaded MC MNPs further stimulate the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokinesThis work was supported by the Programa de Axudas de apoio á etapa predoutoral 2020 of Xunta de Galicia, by the European Commission under the BOW project (FETPROACT-EIC-05-2019, Grant 952183), CARTsol project (PLEC2022-009217 funded by MICINN/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and NextGenerationEU/ PRTR) and partially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (ref PID2020-112626RB-C21), Modalities «Research Challenges» and «Knowledge Generation» and the Regional Consellería de Innovación Program for the Grupos de Referencia Competitiva 2021 —GRC2021 project of Xunta de GaliciaS