Browsing by Subject "Environmental"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Open Access
    Do financial constraints lead to environmental, social and governance controversies? The role of country context
    (WILEY, 2024-10-31) Vargas-Santander, Karen Gloria; Álvarez Díez, Susana; Baixauli Soler, Juan Samuel; Belda Ruiz, María; Organización de Empresas y Finanzas
    The term sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria has gained greater importance globally in recent decades. As social and environmental issues increase, firms are advocating the need to be more sustainable. However, in this scenario, corporate controversies still persist, and an analysis of their causes is required. This study focuses on establishing the relationship between financial constraints (FC) and ESG controversies and on determining whether the country context might modify the controversial behaviours of financially constrained firms. Through a Tobit analysis for panel data—and using a sample of firms with headquarters in 47 countries—our results show a positive and significant influence of FC on ESG controversies. In addition, our evidence confirms that country context impacts relationships within the firm, and that opting for controversial activities is increasingly less viable for firms located in countries where there is institutionalized sustainability.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Open Access
    Metabarcoding analysis of the microbiota in flocks naturally infected by Coxiella burnetii: First description of the global microbiota in domestic small ruminants
    (Elsevier, 2025-06) Contreras de Vera, Antonio; Sanidad Animal
    This study investigates Q fever in sheep and goats, key reservoirs for human infection, by metabarcoding and comparing it with q-PCR and serology. Samples from 26 small ruminant (aborted and normal-delivery) and six males across three Q fever-affected herds were analyzed. In sheep herds, seropositivity was 50 and 80% respectively, with Coxiella (C.) burnetii shedding detected vaginally in the second herd. In goats, 100% seropositivity and 90% C. burnetii detection were observed, with nasal and vaginal samples showing the highest detection rates. Metabarcoding revealed significant differences in alpha diversity, with greater richness in blood and evenness in milk from normal-delivery sheep and higher evenness in faeces from aborted sheep. Beta diversity showed richer and distinct vaginal microbiota in normal-delivery females compared to aborted ones. Firmicutes was the most abundant phylum observed.Dominant genera included: Moraxella (nasal); Mycoplasma, (blood); Streptococcus (milk); Ureaplasma (vaginal and preputial); Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group (faeces). Significant differences in bacterial composition, including infertility-linked vaginal pathogens, were found across female’s groups in all herds in the anatomical locations studied, revealing new species and tropisms. Moreover, taxonomic analysis identified C. burnetii in vaginal, milk and environmental samples. This first report of C. burnetii in the caprine nasal cavity suggests an underestimated tropism and may improve Q fever diagnosis. These findings underscore the need for herd-wide Q fever control measures, including males and normal-delivery females. Our findings contribute to new insights into the pathogen’s impact on small ruminant microbiota and a novel approach to studying infectious diseases in this sector.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Open Access
    Uma luta de mais de 20 anos
    (Murcia: Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Murcia, 2018) Vieira Lisboa, Marijane
    Na estratégia das corporações multinacionais desenvolvedoras de transgênicos, o Brasil ocupou um papel essencial, por ser ao lado dos EUA e também da Argentina, um dos maiores produtores e exportadores de soja e milho. Uma série de regulações foram introduzidas desde cedo com o objetivo de estabelecer um marco legal capaz de oferecer às corporações do ramo agroquímico a segurança jurídica para o controle sobre o uso das sementes e sobre a produção agrícola. Embora adversários políticos, tanto os dois governos do PSDB, quanto os dos governos Lula e Dilma Roussef, do PT, posicionaram-se da mesma forma favoráveis a liberar o plantio e o consumo comercial de transgênicos no país. Um conjunto de organizações, ativistas e cientistas, contudo, vem enfrentando essa política por mais de vinte anos, assumindo a missão de alertar o país a respeito dos riscos ao meio ambiente e à saúde que os transgênicos podem trazer para o Brasil.