María del Carmen Valls Martínez

Bio: María del Carmen Valls Martínez is an academic researcher from University of Almería. The author has contributed to research in topics: Corporate social responsibility & Business. The author has an hindex of 11, co-authored 62 publications receiving 569 citations.

Red wine polyphenols prevent cardiovascular alterations in L-NAME-induced hypertension.

Abstract: ObjectiveRed wine polyphenols have been reported to possess beneficial properties for preventing cardiovascular diseases but their effects on hemodynamic and functional cardiovascular changes during inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis have not been elucidated.DesignThe effects of the red wine

Gender policies on board of directors and sustainable development

Abstract: Gender policies concerning the composition of board of directors are included in the legislation of many countries, especially promoted by the European Commission to reach gender equality in the processes of decision making. On the other hand, in the last decades, sustainable development problems caused by economic progress have enhanced the interest in environmental policies. Using the data from top Spanish listed companies, from 2003 to 2017, we test if the higher number of women on their board influences corporate social responsibility (CSR), through the disclosure of reports following the Global Reporting Initiative guidelines and the inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. By using probit models and instrumental variable estimation to address endogeneity and reverse causality problems, we find that the female presence in management positions is positively linked to a voluntary disclosure of CSR reports and the inclusion in a sustainability index, which supports gender legislation.

Women on corporate boards and firm's financial performance

Abstract: The European Commission has proposed that member countries develop their national self-regulation and governance initiatives to increase the number of women on corporate boards with the aim of promoting gender equality in the processes of decision-making. This has provoked some controversial opinions, which in turn has led to the search for factual data which may support the legal initiatives. In order to shed more light on this topic, this study investigates the influence of a higher percentage of women on the board of directors of companies (excluding financial companies) included in the index of the Spanish Stock Exchange IBEX35 for a fifteen-year period: 2003–2017. To do this, we use a two-stage instrumental variables (IV) regression to address endogeneity and reverse causality problems. Moreover, we study the influence of a mandatory law on female presence on company boards by using a panel data methodology. The findings of this study show that the increasing number of women on boards is positively related to higher financial performance. Moreover, as expected, the gender mandatory law boosts the female proportion on boards of directors. Consequently, there are valid business as well as ethical arguments to support mandatory gender legislation.

Individual features, working conditions and work injuries are associated with work ability among nursing professionals.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE To investigate factors associated with work ability among nursing professionals. PARTICIPANTS They comprised 514 nursing professionals (83.8% of the total number of workers) from a hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil. METHODS In 2009, we conducted a cross-sectional study that was a part of a 5-year planned cohort study initiated in 2008. We administered a comprehensive questionnaire to the participants in order to obtain data on their sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyles, and working conditions. The questionnaire also contained the Brazilian versions of the following: the Job Stress Scale (JSS), Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) Questionnaire, Work-Related Activities That May Contribute To Job-Related Pain and/or Injury (WRAPI), and Work Ability Index (WAI). The results were analyzed using descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate linear regression analyses. RESULTS On the WAI, 74.9% of the workers obtained a score of over 40 points (score range 7-49); the mean score was 42.3 points (SD=4.5). The final multivariate model showed that lower WAI scores were related to the work-related outcome, which was work injury, and the following individual characteristics and working conditions: body mass index (p=0.001), sex (female; p=0.002), sedentariness (p < 0.001), time in the profession (p=0.005), social support at work (p=0.003), effort-reward ratio (p=0.001), violence at work (p=0.005), WRAPI score (p < 0.001), and work injuries (yes; p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS Various factors were associated with work ability. The results showed that a number of variables should be considered when planning and implementing actions to maintain or improve work ability among nursing professionals.

Classification, Functions, and Clinical Relevance of Extracellular Vesicles

Abstract: Both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells release small, phospholipid-enclosed vesicles into their environment. Why do cells release vesicles? Initial studies showed that eukaryotic vesicles are used to remove obsolete cellular molecules. Although this release of vesicles is beneficial to the cell, the vesicles can also be a danger to their environment, for instance in blood, where vesicles can provide a surface supporting coagulation. Evidence is accumulating that vesicles are cargo containers used by eukaryotic cells to exchange biomolecules as transmembrane receptors and genetic information. Because also bacteria communicate to each other via extracellular vesicles, the intercellular communication via extracellular cargo carriers seems to be conserved throughout evolution, and therefore vesicles are likely to be a highly efficient, robust, and economic manner of exchanging information between cells. Furthermore, vesicles protect cells from accumulation of waste or drugs, they contribute to physiology and pathology, and they have a myriad of potential clinical applications, ranging from biomarkers to anticancer therapy. Because vesicles may pass the blood-brain barrier, they can perhaps even be considered naturally occurring liposomes. Unfortunately, pathways of vesicle release and vesicles themselves are also being used by tumors and infectious diseases to facilitate spreading, and to escape from immune surveillance. In this review, the different types, nomenclature, functions, and clinical relevance of vesicles will be discussed.

Risk Management: Value at Risk and Beyond

Abstract: (2003). Risk Management: Value at Risk and Beyond. Journal of the American Statistical Association: Vol. 98, No. 462, pp. 494-494.

Circulating Endothelial Microparticles Are Associated with Vascular Dysfunction in Patients with End-Stage Renal Failure

Abstract: Endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness are major determinants of cardiovascular risk in patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRF). Microparticles are membrane fragments shed from damaged or activated cells. Because microparticles can affect endothelial cells, this study investigated the relationship between circulating microparticles and arterial dysfunction in patients with ESRF and identified the cellular origin of microparticles associated with these alterations. Flow cytometry analysis of platelet-free plasma from 44 patients with ESRF indicated that circulating levels of Annexin V microparticles were increased compared with 32 healthy subjects, as were levels of microparticles derived from endothelial cells (three-fold), platelets (16.5-fold), and erythrocytes (1.6-fold). However, when arterial function was evaluated noninvasively in patients with ESRF, only endothelial microparticle levels correlated highly with loss of flow-mediated dilation (r 0.543; P 0.004), increased aortic pulse wave velocity (r 0.642, P < 0.0001), and increased common carotid artery augmentation index (r 0.463, P 0.0017), whereas platelet-derived, erythrocyte-derived, and Annexin V microparticle levels did not. In vitro, microparticles from patients with ESRF impaired endothelium-dependent relaxations and cyclic guanosine monophosphate generation, whereas microparticles from healthy subjects did not. Moreover, in vitro endothelial dysfunction correlated with endothelial-derived (r 0.891; P 0.003) but not platelet-derived microparticle concentrations. In fact, endothelial microparticles alone decreased endothelial nitric oxide release by 59 7% (P 0.025). This study suggests that circulating microparticles of endothelial origin are tightly associated with endothelial dysfunction and arterial dysfunction in ESRF.