The influence of Motivations and Barriers in the Benefits. An empirical study of EMAS certified business in Spain

The main objective of this research is to analyze through a structured questionnaire, the influence of the motivations that lead companies to implement Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) and the barriers found in the benefits perceived by companies, as well as, the degree of difficulty perceived for the implementation of the different requirements to be fulfilled, which are established in the regulation. An extensive review of the academic literature published on motivations, barriers, difficulties and benefits in environmental standards has been carried out in order to establish the working hypotheses which refer to the relationship between motivations, barriers with the benefits and degree of difficulty in implementing the requirements. The empirical investigation was carried out in a sample of 114 of the 255 companies of the Autonomous Community of Galicia (Spain) that have EMAS certification. The methodology used was the use of the application of a regression analysis to test the hypotheses; pre- viously the measurement scales were validated and an exploratory factorial analysis was applied in order to determine the structure of the different variables considered in the study. The results show that the motivations affect the benefits positively and on the contrary, affect the barriers negatively (reduce them) and it was observed that the greater the barriers, the lower the benefits obtained from the implementation of EMAS (negative influence). The proposed regression models show the joint influence of the motivations and barriers on the benefits considered

Biobased catalyst in biorefinery processes: Sulphonated hydrothermal carbon for glycerol esterification

Sulphonated hydrothermal carbon (SHTC), obtained from D-glucose by mild hydrothermal carbonisation and subsequent sulphonation with sulphuric acid, is able to catalyse the esterification of glycerol with dif- ferent carboxylic acids, namely, acetic, butyric and caprylic acids. Product selectivity can be tuned by sim- ply controlling the reaction conditions. On the one hand, SHTC provides one of the best selectivity towards 20 monoacetins described up to now without the need for an excess of glycerol. On the other hand, excellent selectivity towards triacylglycerides (TAG) can be obtained, beyond those described with other solid cata- lysts, including well-known sulphonic resins. Recovery of the catalyst showed partial deactivation of the solid. The formation of sulphonate esters on the surface, confirmed by solid state NMR, was the cause of this behaviour. Acid treatment of the used catalyst, with subsequent hydrolysis of the surface sulphonate 25 esters, allows SHTC to recover its activity. The higher selectivity towards mono- and triesters and its renewable origin makes SHTC an attractive catalyst in biorefinery processe

Dependency Relationships Between Critical Factors of Quality and Employee Satisfaction

The literature has paid very little attention to the effects of the critical factors of quality on employee satisfaction in the tourism context. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine these relationships among tourist accommodation enterprises considering the perception of quality managers. A theoretical model together with the hypotheses to be contrasted is proposed and it is validated by the technique of structural equation models. The target population of the study is made up of tourist accommodations certified with ‘Q for Quality’ in Spain. The structural equation model provides evidence that the critical factor antecedents of employee satisfaction are process management and quality policy and planning; the latter criterion has a greater influence. The study also found that leadership is an important factor for obtaining results from employees through the rest of the variables that make up the model and employee satisfaction promotes learning within the organisation

Influence of Quality on Employee Results: The Case of Rural Accommodations in Spain

Few studies have analysed the effect of the critical factors of quality results on employees in the services sector and, more specifically, in the tourism sector. This work studies the rural accommodation sector in order to provide facility managers with the critical factors on which to focus their efforts towards increasing their employee results/satisfaction. The data obtained from 100 rural accommodations in Spain are analysed and each of the measurement scales used are validated by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The theoretical model proposed to analyse the relationship is estimated by applying Structural Equation Modelling. The research reveals that the factors to which greater attention should be paid in order to enhance employee results/satisfaction are quality policy and strategy and processes management, the latter being the criterion through which the rest of the critical factors perform. The greatest total effect derives from quality policy and strategy and leadership, and indirect effect via the rest of the criteria

The influence of motivations and barriers in the benefits. An empirical study of EMAS certified business in Spain

The main objective of this research is to analyze through a structured questionnaire, the influence of the motivations that lead companies to implement Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) and the barriers found in the benefits perceived by companies, as well as, the degree of difficulty perceived for the implementation of the different requirements to be fulfilled, which are established in the regulation. An extensive review of the academic literature published on motivations, barriers, difficulties and benefits in environmental standards has been carried out in order to establish the working hypotheses which refer to the relationship between motivations, barriers with the benefits and degree of difficulty in implementing the requirements. The empirical investigation was carried out in a sample of 114 of the 255 companies of the Autonomous Community of Galicia (Spain) that have EMAS certification. The methodology used was the use of the application of a regression analysis to test the hypotheses; previously the measurement scales were validated and an exploratory factorial analysis was applied in order to determine the structure of the different variables considered in the study. The results show that the motivations affect the benefits positively and on the contrary, affect the barriers negatively (reduce them) and it was observed that the greater the barriers, the lower the benefits obtained from the implementation of EMAS (negative influence). The proposed regression models show the joint influence of the motivations and barriers on the benefits considered.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Temporal patterns of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) mitochondrial DNA variation in the archipelago of Azores (Portugal)

Morphological and molecular studies have been carried out on different Mediterranean and Atlantic island populations of honey bees. A previous genetic survey of the Azorean honey bees, carried out by De la Rúa and colleagues (2006), showed their genetic distinctiveness from continental populations and their close relationship with NW African populations. Herein we present the results of a more comprehensive survey (samples collected from all the islands of the archipelago) of the mitochondrial DNA variation exhibited by the honey bee populations of Azores. Using previously obtained results from honey bee samples collected in 2001, we assess the temporal maternal variation of these populations over a 9 year time frame

Development of a new mRNA vaccine platform for tuberculosis

Background Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb), is the frst cause of death by an infectious disease worldwide, killed 1.6 million people in 2021. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is the only approved vaccine for TB to date. However, while BCG is efective in preventing severe forms in children, its efcacy in adults is inconsistent and it does not prevent transmission, highlighting the need for new vaccine development [1]. The recent success of COVID-19 vaccines raised the interest for mRNA-based vaccines, as they are efective, safe and easy to produce. This project aims to develop a new mRNA vaccine platform for TB, based on mRNA coding for antigenic peptides from BCG and M.tb identifed by immunopeptidomics [2], and formulated with a patented technology of lipid nanoemulsions (NE) (WO2019138139A1), adapted for efcient intracellular delivery of mRNA [3]. Materials and methods We tested diferent prototypes of NE-mRNA formulations, coding for EGFP, in vitro. Human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549), human monocytic cells (THP-1), and primary human monocyte-derived macrophages, were transfected with NE-mRNA formulations. Transfection efciency was assessed by measuring the percentage of transfected cells, and the intensity of GFP fuorescence. The cytotoxicity of the formulations was evaluated using AlamarBlue, and by 7-AAD viability staining. Results In vitro preliminary data using EGFP-mRNA-NE formulations indicate that NE formulations can efciently deliver mRNA and induce expression of the encoded protein in diferent cell types, with low cytotoxicity. Conclusions The NE technology presented here is safe, stable, and can efciently deliver mRNA to various cell types. Selected NE formulations will be used as a carrier for a new vaccine candidate against TB, based on mRNA encoding relevant antigenic peptides. These will be tested in mice for safety, immunogenicity, efcacy and dose optimization in order to generate an efective and sustained humoral and cellular immune response against TB. The mRNA vaccines are rapid and relatively simple to produce. The vaccine platform described here could be adapted to develop vaccines against other infectious diseases, particularly to quickly respond to emerging pathogens.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Spatial patterns of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) genetic diversity in continental Portugal: the story told by mitochondrial DNA

Over 24 honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) subspecies occur naturally in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Morphological and molecular markers have grouped this wide-ranging diversity into four lineages (A, M, C, O). The Iberian Peninsula harbours two of such lineages (A and M) and the greatest honey bee maternal diversity and complexity across Europe. While the Spanish honey bee populations have been extensively surveyed for mtDNA variation, the genetic composition of the populations inhabiting the Portuguese side of the Iberian Peninsula is virtually unknown. Herein, we present the first comprehensive account of the maternal variation across continental Portugal. Over 1000 colonies were surveyed for the COI-COII mitochondrial DNA region, which showed a high genetic diversity across Portugal, mostly haplotypes of African origin (lineage A)

Age effect on retina and optic disc normal values

Purpose: To investigate retinal thickness and optic disc parameters by the Retinal Thickness Analyzer (RTA) glaucoma program in older normal subjects and to determine any age effect. Methods: Subjects over 40 years of age without any prior history of eye diseases were recruited. Only subjects completely normal on clinical ophthalmologic examination and on visual field testing by Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA) using the SITA 24-2 program were included. A total of 74 eyes from 74 subjects with even age distribution over the decades were enrolled and underwent topographic measurements of the posterior pole and of the optic disc by RTA. The `glaucoma full' program in software version 4.11B was applied. Results: Mean patient age was 59.9 +/- 10.3 years with a range from 40 to 80 years. The only parameter intraocular pressure (IOP) correlated with was retinal posterior pole asymmetry (r=0.27, p=0.02). IOP itself increased significantly with age (r=0.341, p=0.003). Mean defect and pattern standard deviation of the HFA did not correlate with any of the retinal or optic disc measurements. Increasing age correlated significantly with some of the morphologic measurements of the RTA: decreasing perifoveal minimum thickness (r=-0.258, p=0.026), increased cup-to-disc area ratio (r=0.302, p=0.016) and increased cup area (r=0.338 p=0.007). Conclusions: An age effect exists for some of the retina and optic disc measurements obtained by the RTA. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel