The influence of the CSR Committee in firms' financial and non-financial performance: evidence from France, Germany, and the UK

The CSR committee is a corporate governance mechanism used by companies to promote and develop corporate social responsibility. It must promote a CSR oriented strategy, include it in the company's policies and monitor the compliance with those said policies. This study is an analysis of how a CSR committee can influence firms' performance. The sample consists of 415 companies from the top 3 countries with the biggest economies in the European Union. In the first approach, it will be analysed solely the influence of the CSR committee on performance. Secondly, it will be analysed the influence of a CSR committee in an environmentally sensitive industry, and finally, the influence of the implementation of the Directive 2014/95/EU in firms with a CSR committee. The results show that the existence of a CSR committee is generally positively associated with performance by the company. No generalized relationship was found between the fact that a company has a CSR committee and belongs to an environmentally sensitive industry, and its performance. Regarding the implementation of the Directive 2014/95/EU, in the sample considered, its effect was also not relevant for the companies' performance.O comité de Responsabilidade Social Corporativa (RSC) é um mecanismo de governo corporativo usado pelas empresas para promover e desenvolver a responsabilidade social corporativa. Tem como dever promover uma estratégia orientada para a RSC, inseri-la nas políticas da empresa e monitorizar o cumprimento dessas políticas. Este estudo é uma análise de como um comité de RSC é capaz de influenciar o desempenho das empresas. A amostra é composta por 415 empresas pertencentes aos países com as 3 maiores economias da União Europeia. Numa primeira abordagem será analisada apenas a influência da existência do comité de RSC no desempenho da empresa. Em segundo lugar, será analisada a influência do comité de RSC numa indústria considerada ambientalmente sensível, e por último, a influência da implementação da Diretiva 2014/95/UE em empresas com um comité de RSC. Os resultados mostram que a existência de um comité de RSC geralmente está positivamente relacionada com o desempenho por parte da empresa. Não foi encontrada uma relação generalizada entre o facto de uma empresa ter um comité de RSC, pertencer a uma indústria ambientalmente sensível, e o seu desempenho. Quando à implementação da Diretiva 2014/95/EU, na amostra considerada, o seu efeito também não foi relevante para o desempenho das empresas

HERA - Environmental Risk Assessment of a contaminated estuarine environment: a case study

Sado River estuary is located in the west coast of Portugal. Previous environmental studies identified industrial contamination, non-point anthropogenic sources and contamination coming from the river, all promoting accumulation of polluted sediments with known impacts on the ecological system. Surrounding human populations have intense economic fishery activities. Together with agriculture, estuary fishing products are available to local residents. Food usage previously characterized through ethnographic studies suggests exposure to estuarine products, farming products, and water in daily activities, as potential routes of contamination. It is well established that long term exposure to heavy metals are associated with renal and neurological diseases, most heavy metals are classified as carcinogenic and teratogenic.Instituição Financiadora: FCT; Instituições participantes: IMAR -Instituto do Mar (coord.)e PRÓ-INSA, Associação para a Promoção da Investigação em Saúde, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorg

Zinc Prevents DNA Damage in Normal Cells but Shows Genotoxic and Cytotoxic Effects in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells

Genomic instability is prevented by the DNA damage response (DDR). Micronutrients, like zinc (Zn), are cofactors of DDR proteins, and micronutrient deficiencies have been related to increased cancer risk. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients commonly present Zn deficiency. Moreover, reports point to DDR defects in AML. We studied the effects of Zn in DDR modulation in AML. Cell lines of AML (HEL) and normal human lymphocytes (IMC) were cultured in standard culture, Zn depletion, and supplementation (40 μM ZnSO4) conditions and exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Chromosomal damage, cell death, and nuclear division indexes (NDI) were assessed through cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay. The phosphorylated histone H2AX (yH2AX) expression was monitored at 0 h, 1 h, and 24 h after exposure. Expression of DDR genes was evaluated by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Zn supplementation increased the genotoxicity of H2O2 and UV radiation in AML cells, induced cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects, and led to persistent yH2AX activation. In contrast, in normal lymphocytes, supplementation decreased damage rates, while Zn depletion favored damage accumulation and impaired repair kinetics. Gene expression was not affected by Zn depletion or supplementation. Zn presented a dual role in the modulation of genome damage, preventing damage accumulation in normal cells and increasing genotoxicity and cytotoxicity in AML cells

AZD-7648, a DNA-PK Inhibitor, Induces DNA Damage, Apoptosis, and Cell Cycle Arrest in Chronic and Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells

The non-homologous end joining pathway is vital for repairing DNA double-strand breaks (DSB), with DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) playing a critical role. Altered DNA damage response (DDR) in chronic (CML) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) offers potential therapeutic opportunities. We studied the therapeutic potential of AZD-7648 (DNA-PK inhibitor) in CML and AML cell lines. This study used two CML (K-562 and LAMA-84) and five AML (HEL, HL-60, KG-1, NB-4, and THP-1) cell lines. DDR gene mutations were obtained from the COSMIC database. The copy number and methylation profile were evaluated using MS-MLPA and DDR genes, and telomere length using qPCR. p53 protein expression was assessed using Western Blot, chromosomal damage through cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay, and γH2AX levels and DSB repair kinetics using flow cytometry. Cell density and viability were analyzed using trypan blue assay after treatment with AZD-7648 in concentrations ranging from 10 to 200 µM. Cell death, cell cycle distribution, and cell proliferation rate were assessed using flow cytometry. The cells displayed different DNA baseline damage, DDR gene expressions, mutations, genetic/epigenetic changes, and p53 expression. Only HEL cells displayed inefficient DSB repair. The LAMA-84, HEL, and KG-1 cells were the most sensitive to AZD-7648, whereas HL-60 and K-562 showed a lower effect on density and viability. Besides the reduction in cell proliferation, AZD-7648 induced apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and DNA damage. In conclusion, these results suggest that AZD-7648 holds promise as a potential therapy for myeloid leukemias, however, with variations in drug sensitivity among tested cell lines, thus supporting further investigation to identify the specific factors influencing sensitivity to this DNA-PK inhibitor

MISTIC SEAS II: Designing and implementing pilot monitoring programmes for cetaceans in Macaronesian waters

Poster.-- World Marine Mammal Conference, Barcelona, 9-12 December 2019Peer reviewe

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved