Extra Financial Analysis – EFA: Environmental and financial performances of ABB, Akzo-Nobel and SCA: Picturing the business opportunities and risks associated to stakeholder perceptions and environmental and social prerequisites

External assessment of companies’ environmental aspects often focus on the existence of strategies, commitments, management systems and reporting of firms that concerns environmental aspects. Instead, in line with extra financial analysis, in order to play a role in decision-making, analysis of environmental aspects should incorporate the influence that stakeholders may have on future revenues of the assessed firm and how well advanced corporate strategies are in meeting these threats, turning them into business opportunities. Thereafter, the environmental information financial analysts’ use in their financial analyst reports as well as the relation between environmental and financial performance are illuminated. Three industry sectors, Chemicals, Electrical Equipment and Paper & Forest Products, are specially analysed in this report. Out of almost 4500 analyst reports about 36 percent contain environmental information, but when looking at industry sectors these numbers range from only 3 to up to 79 percent. The type of environmental information that the analysts focus on in their reports are on how firms’ products and product portfolios are adopted to Environmental regulations facing customers/markets, Customer demands and Eco-Efficiency. This product perspective is strongly related to discussions of business opportunities of the firm. In fact, a good 77 % of the financial analyst reports containing environmental information dealt with opportunities linked to environmental aspects. To a lower extent, financial analysts write about company specific risk issues like emissions and litigations while their reports is virtually absent from aspects like environmental strategies, policies, management systems, reporting and auditing. The correlation between corporate financial and environmental performances is illuminated through regression analyses. Industry environmental risk is found to be negatively correlated to corporate return on assets – ROA – (in an static model) while (when applying a dynamic model) corporate environmental performance and ROA have a positive correlation in the short term, which can find support by other studies using different data.Extra financial analysis; EFA; Financial analyst reports; Content analysis; ESG Framework; Return on assets; ROA; Environmental performance; Social performance; financial performance; Financial accounting; Non-financial information

Convergence politique et gouvernance des politiques sectorielles au Maroc : une analyse stratégique

This article provides a contribution to the analysis of the governance of multisectoral strategies in Morocco. It aims to identify the factors that can strengthen the convergence of sectoral policies by questioning the action logic of public and private actors and their impact on the coherence of public policies. The aim is to explore the pattern of interactions between the convergence of strategic public policy variables and the governance mechanisms of multisectoral development strategies. Under an interpreativist posture, the research methodology adopted is mainly guided by an inductive reasoning that starts in the case study of the Moroccan Export Plus vision as a multidimensional strategy whose mode of governance is structured under a logic of vertical specialization combining different approaches and involving a multitude of public and private actors. By adopting an actor-based approach, we have opted for the Mactor method as a tool for strategic analysis that allows us to visualize the weight of strategic variables and their impacts on public policy governance. Our investigations have enabled us to understand the role of strategic variables in the governance of sectoral policies in Morocco and to emerge from them the factors likely to strengthen their convergence.Le présent article porte une contribution à l’analyse de la gouvernance des stratégies à caractère multisectorielles au Maroc. Il vise à identifier les facteurs susceptibles de renforcer la convergence des politiques sectorielles en interrogeant les logiques d’action des acteurs publics et privés et leurs impacts sur la cohérence des politiques publiques. Il s’agit en fait d’explorer le schéma des interactions entre la convergence des variables stratégiques des politiques publiques et les mécanismes de gouvernance des stratégies multisectorielles de développement. Sous une posture interprétativiste, la méthodologie de recherche adoptée est principalement orientée par un raisonnement inductif qui part de l’étude du cas de la vision Maroc Export Plus en tant que stratégie multidimensionnelle dont le mode de gouvernance est structuré sous une logique de spécialisation verticale combinant différentes approches et impliquant une multitude d’acteurs publics et privés.   En adoptant une approche basée sur l’acteur, nous avons opter pour la méthode Mactor comme outil de l’analyse stratégique qui permet de visualiser le poids des variables stratégiques et leurs impacts sur la gouvernance des politiques publiques.  Nos investigations nous ont permis d’appréhender le rôle des variables stratégiques dans la gouvernance des politiques sectorielles au Maroc et d’en sortir les facteurs susceptibles de renforcer leur convergence

Hội thảo quốc tế về đánh giá tính an toàn của hàng hóa tiêu dùng từ vật liệu tái chế trong viễn cảnh toàn cầu

Chemicals and additives in products being produced and marketed globally, this makes an international harmonised assessment and management essential. Chemical testing, research on risks, impacts and management options are carried out throughout the globe but quite fractionated to certain areas and sectors and much too often with little linkages between the different scientific communities. The coordination action (CA) "RISKCYCLE" is aimed to establish and co-ordinate a global network of European and international experts and stakeholders to define together future needs of R+D contributions for innovations in the risk-based management of chemicals and products in a circular economy of global scale leading to alternative strategies to animal tests and reduced health hazards. The partners joining this action seek to explore the synergies of the research carried out within different programmes and countries of the EU, in Asia and overseas to facilitate the intensified communication with researchers, institutions and industries about the risks of hazardous chemicals and additives in products and risk reduction measures and to improve the dispersion of available information. The RISKCYCLE network will closely collaborate with related projects, EU and international bodies and authorities such as for example the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) and the Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks in Europe. Mục đích chính của RISKCYCLE là xác đinhcác nghiện cứu và sự phát triển trong tương lai cấn thiết để thành lập một phương pháp đánh giá dựa trện rủi ro cho các hoá chất và các sản phấm. Phương pháp này sẽ giúp giảm bớt các thủ nghiệm trện động vật, đổng thời đảm bảo sự phát triển các hóa chất mới và một mô hình quản lý sản phấm để giảm thiểu rủi ro đối với sức khởe và môi trường. để đạt được mục tiệu này, trước hết cấn thu thập và đánh giá thông tin hiện có về các hoá chất và đặc biệt là các chất phụ gia được sủ dụng trong sản phấm công nghiệp và tiệu dùng. Nhiều hợp chất độc hại tiềm tàng được giao dich mua bán trện toàn thế giới như là chất phụ gia trong các sản phấm khác nhau. RISKCYCLE sẽ tập trung vào tác động và hậu quả của các chất phụ gia trong sáu lĩnh vực: dệt may, điện tủ, nhựa, da, giấy và dấu mớ bôi trơn. Trong ngành công nghiệp dệt may việc sủ dụng các chất phụ gia sẽ được nghiện cứu, trong khi ở ngành điện tủ và công nghiệp dệt may, việc sủ dụng các chất chống cháy, đặc biệt là chất chống cháy chứa brôm như PBDEs và HBCD, sẽ được phân tích. Trong công nghiệp da, kim loại nặng như crom sẽ được quan tâm. Việc sủ dụng chất diệt côn trùng trong ngành công nghiệp giấy cũng sẽ là một mối quan tâm chính của các hoạt động phối hợp

International workshop on safety assessment of consumer goods coming from recovered materials in a global scale perspective: Event report

Chemicals and additives in products being produced and marketed globally, this makes an international harmonised assessment and management essential. Chemical testing, research on risks, impacts and management options are carried out throughout the globe but quite fractionated to certain areas and sectors and much too often with little linkages between the different scientific communities. The coordination action (CA) \'RISKCYCLE\' is aimed to establish and o-ordinate a global network of European and international experts and stakeholders to define together future needs of R+D contributions for innovations in the risk-based management of chemicals and products in a circular economy of global scale leading to alternative strategies to animal tests and reduced health hazards. The partners joining this action seek to explore the synergies of the research carried out within different programmes and countries of the EU, in Asia and overseas to facilitate the intensified communication with researchers, institutions and industries about the risks of hazardous chemicals and additives in products and risk reduction measures and to improve the dispersion of available information. The RISKCYCLE network will closely collaborate with related projects, EU and international bodies and authorities such as for example the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) and the Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks in Europe.Mục đích chính của RISKCYCLE là xác đinh các nghiện cứu và sự phát triển trong tương lai cấn thiết để thành lập một phương pháp đánh giá dựa trện rủi ro cho các hoá chất và các sản phấm. Phương pháp này sẽ giúp giảm bớt các thủ nghiệm trện động vật, đổng thời đảm bảo sự phát triển các hóa chất mới và một mô hình quản lý sản phấm để giảm thiểu rủi ro đối với sức khởe và môi trường. để đạt được mục tiệu này, trước hết cấn thu thập và đánh giá thông tin hiện có về các hoá chất và đặc biệt là các chất phụ gia được sủ dụng trong sản phấm công nghiệp và tiệu dùng. Nhiều hợp chất độc hại tiềm tàng được giao dich mua bán trện toàn thế giới như là chất phụ gia trong các sản phấm khác nhau. RISKCYCLE sẽ tập trung vào tác động và hậu quả của các chất phụ gia trong sáu lĩnh vực: dệt may, điện tủ, nhựa, da, giấy và dấu mớ bôi trơn. Trong ngành công nghiệp dệt may việc sủ dụng các chất phụ gia sẽ được nghiện cứu, trong khi ở ngành điện tủ và công nghiệp dệt may, việc sủ dụng các chất chống cháy, đặc biệt là chất chống cháy chứa brôm như PBDEs và HBCD, sẽ được phân tích. Trong công nghiệp da, kim loại nặng như crom sẽ được quan tâm. Việc sủ dụng chất diệt côn trùng trong ngành công nghiệp giấy cũng sẽ là một mối quan tâm chính của các hoạt động phối hợp

Citokemija stanica koštane srži u ovaca

The present study was conducted on bone marrow samples obtained from 15 clinically normal Libyan Barbary sheep. Haemopoietic cells, including those of myelocytic series, erythrocytic series, megakaryocytic series, lymphocytes, plasma cells, monocytes and mitotic cells were identified on the basis of their morphological characteristics in May-Grünwald-Giemsa stained bone marrow smears. Cytochemical reactions of bone marrow cells revealed that all granulocytes, except myeloblasts and basophils, were peroxidase positive. Monocytes were peroxidase negative, but very few of them showed weak activity. Cells of the erythrocytic, megakaryocytic and lymphocytic series were peroxidase negative. Granulocytic series cells were Sudan black B positive, except myeloblasts. Some monocytes were positive with a few scattered black granules, while others were negative. Cells of erythrocytic, megakaryocytic and lymphocytic series were Sudan black B negative. Granulocytes at all stages of development reacted positively to periodic acid-Shiff, except myeloblasts. Monocytes were either completely negative or positive. Some lymphocytes showed a few fine or even coarse periodic acid-Shiff positive granules in the cytoplasm. Megakaryocytes were periodic acid-Shiff positive, while all cells of the erythrocytic series were periodic acid-Shiff negative. There was agreement in the mean values of the percentages of the three cytochemical stains positive cells and May-Grünwald-Giemsa stained bone marrow granulocytes.Istraživanje je provedeno na uzorcima koštane srži 15 klinički zdravih libijskih berberskih ovaca. Hemopoetske stanice, uključujući one mijeloične, eritrocitne i megakariocitne linije, limfociti, plazma stanice, monociti i mitotičke stanice bile su identificirane na osnovi njihovih morfoloških značajki u razmascima koštane srži obojenima po May-Grünwald-Giemsi. Citokemijske reakcije stanica koštane srži pokazale su da su svi granulociti, osim mijeloblasta i bazofila, bili pozitivni na peroksidazu. Monociti su bili negativni na peroksidazu, iako je vrlo malo njih pokazivalo slabu aktivnost. Stanice eritrocitne, megakariocitne i limfocitne linije bile su peroksidaza negativne. Stanice granulocitne linije bile su pozitivne na Sudan crnilo B, osim mijeloblasta. Neki monociti bili su pozitivni s nekoliko diseminiranih crnih granula, dok su drugi bili negativni. Stanice eritrocitne, megakariocitne i limfocitne linije bile su Sudan crnilom B negativne. Svi razvojni oblici granulocita reagirali su pozitivno na oksidaciju perjodnom kiselinom i bojenjem Shiffovim reagensom (PAS), osim mijeloblasta. Monociti su bili, ili negativni ili pozitivni. Neki limfociti pokazivali su nekoliko sitnih ili čak krupnih granula pozitivnih na PAS. Megakariociti su bili pozitivni na PAS, dok su sve stanice eritrocitne linije bile tim bojenjem negativne. Ustanovljena je sukladnost srednjih vrijednosti postotaka pozitivnih stanica obojenih trima citokemijskim bojenjima i broja granulocita koštane srži obojenih po May-Grünwald-Giemsi

Association of respiratory symptoms and lung function with occupation in the multinational Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study

Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has been associated with exposures in the workplace. We aimed to assess the association of respiratory symptoms and lung function with occupation in the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease study. Methods We analysed cross-sectional data from 28 823 adults (≥40 years) in 34 countries. We considered 11 occupations and grouped them by likelihood of exposure to organic dusts, inorganic dusts and fumes. The association of chronic cough, chronic phlegm, wheeze, dyspnoea, forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/FVC with occupation was assessed, per study site, using multivariable regression. These estimates were then meta-analysed. Sensitivity analyses explored differences between sexes and gross national income. Results Overall, working in settings with potentially high exposure to dusts or fumes was associated with respiratory symptoms but not lung function differences. The most common occupation was farming. Compared to people not working in any of the 11 considered occupations, those who were farmers for ≥20 years were more likely to have chronic cough (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.19–1.94), wheeze (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.16–1.63) and dyspnoea (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.53–2.20), but not lower FVC (β=0.02 L, 95% CI −0.02–0.06 L) or lower FEV1/FVC (β=0.04%, 95% CI −0.49–0.58%). Some findings differed by sex and gross national income. Conclusion At a population level, the occupational exposures considered in this study do not appear to be major determinants of differences in lung function, although they are associated with more respiratory symptoms. Because not all work settings were included in this study, respiratory surveillance should still be encouraged among high-risk dusty and fume job workers, especially in low- and middle-income countries.publishedVersio

SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity are associated with genetic variants affecting gene expression in a variety of tissues

Variability in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity between individuals is partly due to genetic factors. Here, we identify 4 genomic loci with suggestive associations for SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and 19 for COVID-19 disease severity. Four of these 23 loci likely have an ethnicity-specific component. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) signals in 11 loci colocalize with expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) associated with the expression of 20 genes in 62 tissues/cell types (range: 1:43 tissues/gene), including lung, brain, heart, muscle, and skin as well as the digestive system and immune system. We perform genetic fine mapping to compute 99% credible SNP sets, which identify 10 GWAS loci that have eight or fewer SNPs in the credible set, including three loci with one single likely causal SNP. Our study suggests that the diverse symptoms and disease severity of COVID-19 observed between individuals is associated with variants across the genome, affecting gene expression levels in a wide variety of tissue types

Cohort Profile: Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study

The Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study was established to assess the prevalence of chronic airflow obstruction, a key characteristic of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and its risk factors in adults (≥40 years) from general populations across the world. The baseline study was conducted between 2003 and 2016, in 41 sites across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, the Caribbean and Oceania, and collected high-quality pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry from 28 828 participants. The follow-up study was conducted between 2019 and 2021, in 18 sites across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean. At baseline, there were in these sites 12 502 participants with high-quality spirometry. A total of 6452 were followed up, with 5936 completing the study core questionnaire. Of these, 4044 also provided high-quality pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry. On both occasions, the core questionnaire covered information on respiratory symptoms, doctor diagnoses, health care use, medication use and ealth status, as well as potential risk factors. Information on occupation, environmental exposures and diet was also collected